Semiconductor memory device to hold 5-bits of data per memory cell

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell configured to hold 5-bit data; a word line coupled to the memory cell; and a row decoder configured to apply first to 31st voltages to the word line. A first bit of the 5-bit data is established by reading operations using first to sixth voltages. A second bit of the 5-bit data is established by reading operations using seventh to twelfth voltages. A third bit of the 5-bit data is established by reading operations using thirteenth to eighteenth voltages. A fourth bit of the 5-bit data is established by reading operations using nineteenth to 25th voltages. A fifth bit of the 5-bit data is established by reading operations using 26th to 31st voltages.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims benefit under 35 U.S.C.§ 120 to U.S. application Ser. No. 17/738,069 filed May 6, 2022, whichis a continuation of and claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S.application Ser. No. 17/143,530, filed Jan. 7, 2021, which is acontinuation of and claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S.application Ser. No. 16/564,279, filed Sep. 9, 2019, which is based uponand claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from JapanesePatent Application No. 2019-054177, filed Mar. 22, 2019, the entirecontents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a semiconductor memorydevice.

BACKGROUND

A semiconductor memory including memory cells arrangedthree-dimensionally is known.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a memory system according to a firstembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a memory cell array according to thefirst embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating possible data, a thresholddistribution, and read voltages for memory cells according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are timing charts of various signals during a readingoperation according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating possible data and read voltages formemory cells according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are timing charts of various signals during a readingoperation according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating possible data and read voltages formemory cells according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are timing charts of various signals during areading operation according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating possible data and read voltages formemory cells according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are timing charts of various signals during areading operation according to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a writing operation according to afifth embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram illustrating processes of a controllerin the writing operation according to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a data scramble methodaccording to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating the data scramble method accordingto the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating write command sequencesaccording to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 20A and FIG. 20B are flowcharts illustrating a reading operationaccording to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram illustrating read command sequencesaccording to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 22A is a timing chart of various signals during a reading operationaccording to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 22B is a flowchart illustrating a scrambled data decoding methodaccording to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 23A, FIG. 23B, and FIG. 23C are schematic diagrams illustratingread command sequences according to a first modification of the fifthembodiment;

FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 are schematic diagrams illustrating read commandsequences according to a second modification of the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a data scramble methodaccording to a sixth embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram illustrating write command sequencesaccording to the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 28A, FIG. 28B, and FIG. 28C are schematic diagrams illustratingread command sequences according to the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 29A, FIG. 29B, and FIG. 29C are timing charts of various signalsduring a reading operation according to the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 30A and FIG. 30B are schematic diagrams illustrating read commandsequences according to a modification of the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 31 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a data scramble methodaccording to a seventh embodiment;

FIG. 32A and FIG. 32B are schematic diagrams illustrating read commandsequences according to the seventh embodiment;

FIG. 33A and FIG. 33B are timing charts of various signals during areading operation according to the seventh embodiment;

FIG. 34A and FIG. 34B are schematic diagrams illustrating read commandsequences according to a modification of the seventh embodiment;

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating possible data, a thresholddistribution, and read voltages for memory cells according to an eighthembodiment;

FIG. 36A is a conceptual diagram illustrating a data scramble methodaccording to the eighth embodiment;

FIG. 36B is a flowchart illustrating the data scramble method accordingto the eighth embodiment;

FIG. 37 is a timing chart of various signals during a reading operationaccording to the eighth embodiment;

FIG. 38 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a data scramble methodaccording to a ninth embodiment;

FIG. 39A and FIG. 39B are timing charts of various signals during areading operation according to the ninth embodiment;

FIG. 40 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a data scramble methodaccording to a tenth embodiment;

FIG. 41A and FIG. 41B are timing charts of various signals during areading operation according to the tenth embodiment;

FIG. 42 is a block diagram of a memory system according to an eleventhembodiment;

FIG. 43 is a conceptual diagram illustrating processes of a controllerin a writing operation according to the eleventh embodiment;

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between writing dataand each of a word line, a chip line, and write data in the writingoperation according to the eleventh embodiment;

FIG. 45A, FIG. 45B, FIG. 45C and FIG. 45D are schematic diagramsillustrating write command sequences according to the eleventhembodiment;

FIG. 46A is a schematic diagram illustrating a read command sequenceaccording to the eleventh embodiment;

FIG. 46B is a conceptual diagram illustrating processes of a controllerin a reading operation according to the eleventh embodiment;

FIG. 47 is a conceptual diagram illustrating processes of a controllerin a writing operation according to a twelfth embodiment;

FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between writing dataand each of a word line, a chip line, and write data in the writingoperation according to the twelfth embodiment;

FIG. 49 is a conceptual diagram illustrating processes of a controllerin the writing operation according to a modification of the twelfthembodiment;

FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between writing dataand each of a word line, a chip line, and write data in the writingoperation according to a modification of the twelfth embodiment;

FIG. 51 is a diagram illustrating possible data, a thresholddistribution, and read voltages for memory cells according to amodification of the first to fourth embodiments;

FIG. 52 is a flowchart illustrating a writing operation according to amodification of the fifth to twelfth embodiments;

FIG. 53A, FIG. 53B, and FIG. 53C are schematic diagrams illustrating asense amplifier unit according to a modification of the fifth to twelfthembodiments; and

FIG. 54 is a flowchart illustrating a reading operation according to amodification of the fifth to twelfth embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, according to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory deviceincludes: a memory cell configured to hold 5-bit data according to athreshold; a word line coupled to the memory cell; and a row decoderconfigured to apply first to 31st voltages to the word line. A first bitof the 5-bit data is established by reading operations using first tosixth voltages. A second bit of the 5-bit data is established by readingoperations using seventh to twelfth voltages. The second bit isdifferent from the first bit. A third bit of the 5-bit data isestablished by reading operations using thirteenth to eighteenthvoltages. The third bit is different from the first and second bits. Afourth bit of the 5-bit data is established by reading operations usingnineteenth to 25th voltages. The fourth bit is different from the firstto third bits. A fifth bit of the 5-bit data is established by readingoperations using 26th to 31st voltages. The fifth bit is different fromthe first to fourth bits. The first to 31st voltages are differentvoltages.

1. First Embodiment

A semiconductor storage device according to the first embodiment will bedescribed. As the semiconductor memory device, a NAND flash memory withmemory cells arranged on a semiconductor substrate two dimensionally orabove a semiconductor substrate three dimensionally will be described byway of example.

1.1 Configuration

1.1.1 Overall Configuration of Memory System

First, a rough overall configuration of a memory system including thesemiconductor memory device according to the present embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 1 . FIG. 1 is a block diagram of thememory system according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1 , a memory system 1 includes a NAND flash memory 100and a controller 200. The NAND flash memory 100 and the controller 200may form one semiconductor device in combination, for example. Thesemiconductor device is, for example, a memory card such as an SD™ card,or a solid state drive (SSD).

The NAND flash memory 100 includes a plurality of memory cells to storedata in a non-volatile manner. The controller 200 is connected to theNAND flash memory 100 by a NAND bus and is connected to a host apparatus300 by a host bus. The controller 200 controls the NAND flash memory100, and accesses the NAND flash memory 100 in response to aninstruction received from the host apparatus 300. The host apparatus 300is, for example, a digital camera or a personal computer or the like,and the host bus is, for example, an SD™ interface-compatible bus.

The NAND buses perform signal transmission/reception compliant with aNAND interface. The signal includes, for example, a chip enable signalCEn, an address latch enable signal ALE, a command latch enable signalCLE, a write enable signal WEn, a read enable signal REn, a ready/busysignal RBn, and an input/output signal I/O.

The signal CEn is a signal for enabling the NAND flash memory 100.Signals CLE and ALE are signals for notifying the NAND flash memory 100that the input/output signal I/O to the NAND flash memory 100 is acommand and an address, respectively. Signal WEn is asserted at the lowlevel, and is used for taking an input signal I/O in the NAND flashmemory 100. Signal REn is also asserted at the low level, and is usedfor reading an output signal I/O from the NAND flash memory 100. Theready/busy signal RBn indicates whether the NAND flash memory 100 is ina ready state (a state where an instruction from the controller 200 canbe received) or in a busy state (a state where an instruction from thecontroller 200 cannot be received), and the low level indicates the busystate. The input/output signal I/O is, for example, an 8-bit signal. Theinput/output signal I/O is an entity of data transmitted and receivedbetween the NAND flash memory 100 and the controller 200, and is acommand, an address, write data, read data, or the like.

1.1.2 Configuration of Controller 200

Details of the configuration of the controller 200 will be describedwith continued reference to FIG. 1 . As shown in FIG. 1 , the controller200 includes a host interface circuit 210, an embedded memory (RAM) 220,a processor (CPU) 230, a buffer memory 240, and a NAND interface circuit250.

The host interface circuit 210 is coupled to the host apparatus 300 viathe host bus to transfer instructions and data received from the hostapparatus 300 respectively to the processor 230 and the buffer memory240. The host interface circuit 210 also transfers data in the buffermemory 240 to the host apparatus 300 in response to an instruction fromthe processor 230.

The processor 230 controls the operation of the entire controller 200.For example, upon receipt of a write instruction from the host apparatus300, the processor 230 issues, in response thereto, a write instructionto the NAND interface circuit 250. Similar processing is performed atthe time of reading or erasing. The processor 230 also executes variousprocesses, such as wear leveling, for managing the NAND flash memory100.

The NAND interface circuit 250 is coupled to the NAND flash memory 100via the NAND bus to communicate with the NAND flash memory 100. Based onan instruction from the processor 230, the NAND interface circuit 250outputs the signals ALE, CLE, WEn, and REn to the NAND flash memory 100.During writing, the NAND interface circuit 250 transfers a write commandissued by the processor 230 and write data in the buffer memory 240 tothe NAND flash memory 100 as I/O signals I/O. Moreover, during reading,the NAND interface circuit 250 transfers the read command issued by theprocessor 230 to the NAND flash memory 100 as an I/O signal I/O andfurther receives the data read from the NAND flash memory 100 as an I/Osignal I/O and transfers the data to the buffer memory 240.

The buffer memory 240 temporarily holds write data and read data.

The embedded memory 220 is, for example, a semiconductor memory, such asa DRAM, and is used as a work area of the processor 230. The embeddedmemory 220 holds firmware that allows the NAND flash memory 100 to bemanaged, various management tables, and the like.

1.1.3 Configuration of NAND Flash Memory 100

1.1.3.1 Overall Configuration of NAND Flash Memory 100

Next, a configuration of the NAND flash memory 100 will be described. Asshown in FIG. 1 , the NAND flash memory 100 includes a memory cell array110, a row decoder 120, a driver circuit 130, a sense amplifier 140, anaddress register 150, a command register 160, and a sequencer 170.

The memory cell array 110 includes, for example, four blocks BLK (BLK0to BLK3) each including a plurality of nonvolatile memory cellsassociated with rows and columns. The memory cell array 110 stores dataprovided from the controller 200.

The row decoder 120 selects one of the blocks BLK0 to BLK3 and furtherselects a row direction the selected block BLK.

The driver circuit 130 supplies a voltage to the selected block BLK viathe row decoder 120.

The sense amplifier 140, during data reading, senses data read from thememory cell array 110 and outputs the data DAT to the controller 200. Indata writing, the sense amplifier 140 transfers write data DAT receivedfrom the controller 200 to the memory cell array 110.

The address register 150 holds an address ADD received from thecontroller 200. The command register 160 holds a command CMD receivedfrom the controller 200.

The sequencer 170 controls the operation of the entire NAND flash memory100 based on the command CMD held in the command register 160.

1.1.3.2 Configuration of Block BLK

Next, a configuration of the block BLK will be described with referenceto FIG. 2 . FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the blocks BLK and the senseamplifier 140.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the block BLK includes a plurality of NAND strings15. Each of the NAND strings 15 includes, for example, eight memory celltransistors MT (MT0 to MT7) and selection transistors ST1 and ST2. Thememory cell transistor MT includes a control gate and a charge storagelayer, and holds data in a nonvolatile manner. The memory celltransistors MT are coupled in series between the source of selsectiontransistor ST1 and the drain of selsection transistor ST2.

The gates of selection transistors ST1 and ST2 in the same block arecoupled in common to selection gate lines SGD and SGS, respectively.Similarly, the control gates of the memory cell transistors MT0 to MT7in the same block are coupled in common to the word lines WL0 to WL7,respectively.

The drains of selection transistors ST1 of the NAND strings 15 in thesame column in the memory cell array 110 are coupled in common to a bitline BL (BL0 to BL(L−1), where (L−1) is a natural number equal to orlarger than 1). Namely, the bit line BL couples the NAND strings 15together in common among a plurality of blocks BLK. Moreover, thesources of a plurality of selection transistors ST2 are coupled incommon to a source line SL.

In this example, one memory cell transistor MT can hold, for example,5-bit data. The bits of the 5-bit data will be referred to as a bottombit, a lower bit, a middle bit, an upper bit, and a top bit, inascending order from the least significant bit. A set of bottom bitsheld in memory cells coupled to the same word line will be referred toas “a bottom page”, a set of lower bits held in memory cells coupled tothe same word line will be referred to as “a lower page”, a set ofmiddle bits held in memory cells coupled to the same word line will bereferred to as “a middle page”, a set of upper bits held in memory cellscoupled to the same word line will be referred to as “an upper page”,and a set of top bits held in memory cells coupled to the same word linewill be referred to as “a top page”. Namely, five pages are assigned toone word line WL, and the block BLK including eight word lines WL has acapacity of 40 pages. In other words, “page” may also be defined as apart of a memory space formed by memory cells coupled to the same wordline. Data may be written or read in units of pages (this reading methodis called page-by-page reading). Data is erased in units of blocks BLK.

The memory cell array may be configured such that memory celltransistors are three-dimensionally stacked above a semiconductorsubstrate. Such a configuration is described, for example, in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/407,403, entitled “THREE-DIMENSIONALSTACKED NONVOLATILE SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY”, filed on Mar. 19, 2009. Thisis also described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/406,524 filedon Mar. 18, 2009 entitled “THREE-DIMENSIONAL STACKED NONVOLATILESEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY”, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/679,991 filedon Mar. 25, 2010 entitled “NONVOLATILE SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE ANDMETHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME”, and U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/532,030 filed on Mar. 23, 2009 entitled “SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY ANDMETHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME”. These patent applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

1.1.3.3 Configuration of Sense Amplifier 140

Next, a configuration of the sense amplifier 140 will be described withreference to FIG. 2 . As shown in FIG. 2 , the sense amplifier 140includes sense amplifier units SAU (SAU0 to SAU(L−1)) provided forrespective bit lines BL.

The sense amplifier units SAU each include a sense section SA, anarithmetic operation section OP, and six latch circuits ADL, BDL, CDL,DDL, EDL, and XDL.

The sense section SA senses data read out to the corresponding bit lineBL, and applies a voltage to the bit line BL in accordance with writedata. That is, the sense section SA is a module that directly controlsthe bit line BL.

The latch circuits ADL, BDL, CDL, DDL, and EDL temporarily store readdata and write data. The arithmetic operation section OP performsvarious logical operations, such as a logical add (OR) operation, alogical multiply (AND) operation, a negation (NOT) operation, anexclusive OR (XOR) operation, and an exclusive NOR (XNOR) operation ondata stored in the latch circuits ADL, BDL, CDL, DDL, and EDL.

The sense section SA, the latch circuits ADL, BDL, CDL, DDL, and EDL,and the arithmetic operation section OP are coupled to one another by abus so that data can be transmitted and received therebetween. The busis coupled further to the latch circuit XDL.

Data is input from and output to an external device at the senseamplifier 140 via the latch circuit XDL. More specifically, datareceived from the controller 200 is transferred to the latch circuitsADL, BDL, CDL, DDL, and EDL or the sense section SA via the latchcircuit XDL. Data of the latch circuits ADL, BDL, CDL, DDL, and EDL orthe sense section SA is transmitted to the controller 200 via the latchcircuit XDL. The latch circuit XDL functions as a cache memory of theNAND flash memory 100. Therefore, even if the latch circuits ADL, BDL,CDL, DDL, and EDL are in use, the NAND flash memory 100 can be in theready state as long as the latch circuit XDL is available.

1.1.3.4 Data Held in Memory Cell Transistors and Threshold Voltage

Data held in the memory cell transistors MT, threshold voltages and readlevels of the respective data will be explained with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating possible data, a thresholddistribution, and voltages used during reading, for the memory celltransistors MT.

As described above, the memory cell transistors MT can take 32 states inaccordance with their threshold voltages. The 32 states are hereinafterreferred to as a “0” state, “1” state, “2” state, “F” state, . . . ,“10” state, “11” state, . . . , and “1F state” in hexadecimal notationin order from data with the lowest threshold voltage.

The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the “0” stateis lower than a voltage V1 and corresponds to a data erase state. Thethreshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the “1” state isequal to or higher than the voltage V1 and lower than a voltage V2(>V1). The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the “2”state is equal to or higher than the voltage V2 and lower than a voltageV3 (>V2). The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the“3” state is equal to or higher than the voltage V3 and lower than avoltage V4 (>V3). The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MTin the “4” state is equal to or higher than the voltage V4 and lowerthan a voltage V5 (>V4). The threshold voltage of the memory celltransistor MT in the “5” state is equal to or higher than the voltage V5and lower than a voltage V6 (>V5). The threshold voltage of the memorycell transistor MT in the “6” state is equal to or higher than thevoltage V6 and lower than a voltage V7 (>V6). The threshold voltage ofthe memory cell transistor MT in the “7” state is equal to or higherthan the voltage V7 and lower than a voltage V8 (>V7). The thresholdvoltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the “8” state is equal to orhigher than the voltage V8 and lower than a voltage V9 (>V8). Thethreshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the “9” state isequal to or higher than the voltage V9 and lower than a voltage VA(>V9). The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the “A”state is equal to or higher than voltage VA and lower than voltage VB(>VA). The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the “B”state is equal to or higher than the voltage VB and lower than a voltageVC (>VB). The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the“C” state is equal to or higher than the voltage VC and lower than avoltage VD (>VC). The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MTin the “D” state is equal to or higher than the voltage VD and lowerthan a voltage VE (>VD). The threshold voltage of the memory celltransistor MT in the “E” state is equal to or higher than the voltage VEand lower than a voltage VF (>VE). The threshold voltage of the memorycell transistor MT in the “F” state is equal to or higher than thevoltage VF and lower than a voltage V10.

The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the “10” stateis equal to or higher than the voltage V10 and lower than a voltage V11(>V10). The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the“11” state is equal to or higher than the voltage V11 and lower than avoltage V12 (>V11). The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistorMT in the “12” state is equal to or higher than the voltage V12 andlower than a voltage V13 (>V12). The threshold voltage of the memorycell transistor MT in the “13” state is equal to or higher than thevoltage V13 and lower than a voltage V14 (>V13). The threshold voltageof the memory cell transistor MT in the “14” state is equal to or higherthan the voltage V14 and lower than a voltage V15 (>V14). The thresholdvoltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the “15” state is equal toor higher than the voltage V15 and lower than a voltage V16 (>V15). Thethreshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the “16” state isequal to or higher than the voltage V16 and lower than a voltage V17(>V16). The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the“17” state is equal to or higher than the voltage V17 and lower than avoltage V18 (>V17). The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistorMT in the “18” state is equal to or higher than the voltage V18 andlower than a voltage V19 (>V18). The threshold voltage of the memorycell transistor MT in the “19” state is equal to or higher than thevoltage V19 and lower than a voltage VIA (>V19). The threshold voltageof the memory cell transistor MT in the “1A” state is equal to or higherthan the voltage VIA and lower than a voltage V1B (>V1A). The thresholdvoltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the “1B” state is equal toor higher than the voltage V1B and lower than a voltage V1C (>V1B). Thethreshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the “1C” state isequal to or higher than the voltage V1C and lower than a voltage V1D(>V1C). The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT in the“1D” state is equal to or higher than the voltage V1D and lower than avoltage VIE (>V1D). The threshold voltage of the memory cell transistorMT in the “1E” state is equal to or higher than the voltage VIE andlower than a voltage V1F (>V1E). The threshold voltage of the memorycell transistor MT in the “1F” state is equal to or higher than voltageV1F and lower than a voltage VREAD. Of the 32 states accordinglydistributed, the “1F” state is the highest threshold voltage state.

The above-described threshold distribution is obtained by writing 5-bit(5-page) data including the above-mentioned bottom bit, lower bit,middle bit, upper bit, and top bit. The relationship between the above32 states in hexadecimal notation and the bottom bit, lower bit, middlebit, upper bit, and top bit is as follows:

-   -   “0” state: “11111” (represented in the order of        “top/upper/middle/lower/bottom”)    -   “1” state: “11110”    -   “2” state: “11100”    -   “3” state: “11101”    -   “4” state: “11001”    -   “5” state: “11000”    -   “6” state: “10000”    -   “7” state: “00000”    -   “8” state: “00100”    -   “9” state: “10100”    -   “A” state: “10110”    -   “B” state: “00110”    -   “C” state: “01110”    -   “D” state: “01100”    -   “E” state: “01101”    -   “F” state: “01001”    -   “10” state: “01000”    -   “11” state: “01010”    -   “12” state: “00010”    -   “13” state: “10010”    -   “14” state: “11010”    -   “15” state: “11011”    -   “16” state: “10011”    -   “17” state: “10001”    -   “18” state: “10101”    -   “19” state: “00101”    -   “1A” state: “00001”    -   “1B” state: “00011”    -   “1C” state: “01011”    -   “1D” state: “01111”    -   “1E” state: “00111”    -   “1F” state: “10111”        Only one of the five bits is different between data        corresponding to adjacent two states in the threshold        distribution.

Therefore, when the bottom bit is read, a voltage corresponding to aboundary where the value (“0” or “1”) of the bottom bit changes may beused. This also applies to the lower bit, the middle bit, the upper bit,and the top bit.

That is, as depicted in FIG. 3 , the bottom page may be read by using,as read voltages, the voltage V1 that distinguishes the “0” state fromthe “1” state, the voltage V3 that distinguishes the “2” state from the“3” state, the voltage V5 that distinguishes the “4” state from the “5”state, the voltage VE that distinguishes the “D” state from the “E”state, the voltage V10 that distinguishes the “F” state from the “10”state, and the voltage V15 that distinguishes the “14” state from the“15” state. The reading operations using voltages V1, V3, V5, VE, V10,and V15 will be referred to as reading operations 1R, 3R, 5R, ER, 10R,and 15R, respectively.

The reading operation 1R is a process of determining whether or not thethreshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than thevoltage V1. The reading operation 3R is a process of determining whetheror not the threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lowerthan the voltage V3. The reading operation 5R is a process ofdetermining whether or not the threshold voltage of the memory celltransistor MT is lower than the voltage V5. The reading operation ER isa process of determining whether or not the threshold voltage of thememory cell transistor MT is lower than the voltage VE. The readingoperation 10R is a process of determining whether or not the thresholdvoltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than the voltage V10.The reading operation 15R is a process of determining whether or not thethreshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than thevoltage V15.

The lower page may be read by using, as read voltages, the voltage V2that distinguishes the “1” state from the “2” state, the voltage VA thatdistinguishes the “9” state from the “A” state, the voltage VD thatdistinguishes the “C” state from the “D” state, the voltage V11 thatdistinguishes the “10” state from the “11” state, the voltage V17 thatdistinguishes the “16” state from the “17” state, and the voltage V1Bthat distinguishes the “1A” state from the “1B” state. The readingoperations using voltages V2, VA, VD, V11, V17, and V1B will be referredto as reading operations 2R, AR, DR, 11R, 17R, and 1BR, respectively.

The reading operation 2R is a process of determining whether or not thethreshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than thevoltage V2. The reading operation AR is a process of determining whetheror not the threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lowerthan the voltage VA. The reading operation DR is a process ofdetermining whether or not the threshold voltage of the memory celltransistor MT is lower than the voltage VD. The reading operation 11R isa process of determining whether or not the threshold voltage of thememory cell transistor MT is lower than the voltage V11. The readingoperation 17R is a process of determining whether or not the thresholdvoltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than the voltage V17.The reading operation 1BR is a process of determining whether or not thethreshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than thevoltage V1B.

The middle page may be read by using, as read voltages, the voltage V4that distinguishes the “3” state from the “4” state, the voltage V8 thatdistinguishes the “7” state from the “8” state, the voltage VF thatdistinguishes the “E” state from the “F” state, the voltage V18 thatdistinguishes the “17” state from the “18” state, the voltage VIA thatdistinguishes the “1B” state from the “1A” state, and the voltage V1Dthat distinguishes the “1C” state from the “1D” state. The readingoperations using voltages V4, V8, VF, V18, V1A, and V1D will be referredto as reading operations 4R, 8R, FR, 18R, 1AR, and 1DR, respectively.

The reading operation 4R is a process of determining whether or not thethreshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than thevoltage V4. The reading operation 8R is a process of determining whetheror not the threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lowerthan the voltage V8. The reading operation FR is a process ofdetermining whether or not the threshold voltage of the memory celltransistor MT is lower than the voltage VF. The reading operation 18R isa process of determining whether or not the threshold voltage of thememory cell transistor MT is lower than the voltage V18. The readingoperation 1AR is a process of determining whether or not the thresholdvoltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than the voltage V1A.The reading operation 1DR is a process of determining whether or not thethreshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than thevoltage V1D.

The upper page may be read by using, as read voltages, the voltage V6that distinguishes the “5” state from the “6” state, the voltage VC thatdistinguishes the “B” state from the “C” state, the voltage V12 thatdistinguishes the “11” state from the “12” state, the voltage V14 thatdistinguishes the “13” state from the “14” state, the voltage V16 thatdistinguishes the “15” state from the “16” state, the voltage V1C thatdistinguishes the “1B” state from the “1C” state, and the voltage VIEthat distinguishes the “1D” state from the “1E” state. The readingoperations using voltages V6, VC, V12, V14, V16, V1C and VIE will bereferred to as reading operations 6R, CR, 12R, 14R, 16R, 1CR and 1ER,respectively.

The reading operation 6R is a process of determining whether or not thethreshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than thevoltage V6. The reading operation CR is a process of determining whetheror not the threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lowerthan the voltage VC. The reading operation 12R is a process ofdetermining whether or not the threshold voltage of the memory celltransistor MT is lower than the voltage V12. The reading operation 14Ris a process of determining whether or not the threshold voltage of thememory cell transistor MT is lower than the voltage V14. The readingoperation 16R is a process of determining whether or not the thresholdvoltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than the voltage V16.The reading operation 1CR is a process of determining whether or not thethreshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than thevoltage V1C. The reading operation 1ER is a process of determiningwhether or not the threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT islower than the voltage V1E.

The top page may be read by using, as read voltages, the voltage V7 thatdistinguishes the “6” state from the “7” state, the voltage V9 thatdistinguishes the “8” state from the “9” state, the voltage VB thatdistinguishes the “A” state from the “B” state, the voltage V13 thatdistinguishes the “12” state from the “13” state, the voltage V19 thatdistinguishes the “18” state from the “19” state, and the voltage V1Fthat distinguishes the “1E” state from the “1F” state. The readingoperations using voltages V7, V9, VB, V13, V19, and V1F will be referredto as reading operations 7R, 9R, BR, 13R, 19R, and 1FR, respectively.

The reading operation 7R is a process of determining whether or not thethreshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than thevoltage V7. The reading operation 9R is a process of determining whetheror not the threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lowerthan the voltage V9. The reading operation BR is a process ofdetermining whether or not the threshold voltage of the memory celltransistor MT is lower than the voltage VB. The reading operation 13R isa process of determining whether or not the threshold voltage of thememory cell transistor MT is lower than the voltage V13. The readingoperation 19R is a process of determining whether or not the thresholdvoltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than the voltage V19.The reading operation 1FR is a process of determining whether or not thethreshold voltage of the memory cell transistor MT is lower than thevoltage V1F (whether or not the held data is “1F”).

1.2 Reading Operation

Now, a method for reading data in the NAND flash memory 100 according tothe present embodiment will be described.

1.2.1 First Example

First, a first example of the reading method will be described. Thefirst example is an example where the controller 200 issues a readcommand for each page. This method is referred to as page-by-pagereading. FIG. 4 is a timing chart illustrating the I/O signal I/O, theready/busy signal RBn, and the selected word line voltage during areading operation in the present example.

As depicted in FIG. 4 , the controller 200 issues and transmits commands“01h” and “00h” to the NAND flash memory 100. The command “01h declaresto the NAND flash memory 100 that the bottom page is to be accessed. Thecommand “00h” declares that an address is to be input. The commands arestored in, for example, the command register 160 in the NAND flashmemory 100.

Subsequently, the controller 200 issues the address ADD of an area to beaccessed, further issues a command “30h”, and transmits the address andthe command to the NAND flash memory 100. The address ADD is stored in,for example, the address register 150, and the command “30h” is storedin the command register 160. The command “30h” is a command to cause theNAND flash memory 100 to perform a reading operation. FIG. 4 illustratesthat the address ADD is transmitted during one cycle. However, for theNAND interface, the address is transmitted, for example, over fivecycles: first two cycles transmit column addresses, and the subsequentthree cycles transmit row addresses (page addresses). Instead ofrepresenting the access target page as “01h” or the like, pageinformation may be included in a part of the address ADD transmittedover a plurality of cycles.

Therefore, in response to the command “30h” in the command register 160,the sequencer 170 in the NAND flash memory 100 starts an operation ofreading bottom page corresponding to the page address held in theaddress register 150 and is set to the busy state.

In the NAND flash memory 100, the sense amplifier 140 precharges the bitline BL to a predetermined potential. Moreover, the row decoder 120selects the word line WL corresponding to the address received from thecontroller 200. Then, the driver circuit 130 applies the voltage VREADto the unselected word lines WL, while applying a read voltage VCGRV tothe selected word line WL. The read voltage VCGRV corresponds to theread level described with reference to FIG. 3 . As depicted in FIG. 4 ,during reading of the bottom page, voltages V1, V3, V5, VE, V10, and V15are sequentially applied to the selected word line WL to perform thereading operations 1R, 3R, 5R, ER, 10R, and 15R.

For example, data read during the reading operation 1R is stored in thelatch circuit EDL. Subsequently, the arithmetic operation section OPperforms a logical operation on data read during the reading operation3R and data in the latch circuit EDL, and the logical operation resultis stored in the latch circuit EDL. Furthermore, the arithmeticoperation section OP performs a logical operation on data read duringthe reading operation 5R and data in the latch circuit EDL, and thelogical operation result is stored in the latch circuit EDL. Theoperation is also performed for the reading operations ER, 10R, and 15R,and the result is established as bottom page data B-DAT. Therefore, thedata B-DAT in the latch circuit EDL is transferred to the latch circuitXDL, and the NAND flash memory 100 is set to the ready state.

In response to the setting of the NAND flash memory 100 to the readystate, the controller 200 toggles the signal REn. Then, in synchronismwith the signal REn, the data B-DAT in the latch circuit XDL istransmitted to the controller 200.

When the lower page is read, the command “02h” | s issued instead of thecommand “01h” as depicted in FIG. 4 . The command “02h” declares to theNAND flash memory 100 that the lower page is to be accessed. Subsequentoperations are substantially similar to the corresponding operations forthe bottom page. Differences are that the voltages V2, VA, VD, V11, V17,and V1B are used as read voltages, and that a latch circuit DDL is used.Lower page data L-DAT stored in the DDL is transferred to the XDL andthen transmitted to the controller 200.

When the middle page data is read, the command “03h” is issued whichdeclares to the NAND flash memory 100 that the middle page is to beaccessed. Subsequent operations are substantially similar to thecorresponding operations for the bottom page and the lower page.Differences are that the voltages V4, V8, VF, V18, V1A, and V1D are usedas read voltages, and that a latch circuit CDL is used. Middle page dataM-DAT stored in the CDL is transferred to the XDL and then transmittedto the controller 200.

When the upper page data is read, the command “04h” is issued whichdeclares to the NAND flash memory 100 that the upper page is to beaccessed. The voltages V6, VC, V12, V14, V16, V1C, and V1E are used asread voltages, and upper page data is established by seven readingoperations. In the sense amplifier 140, the latch circuit BDL holds theupper page data. Upper page data U-DAT stored in the BDL is transferredto the XDL and then transmitted to the controller 200.

When the top page data is read, the command “05h” is issued whichdeclares to the NAND flash memory 100 that the top page is to beaccessed. The voltages V7, V9, VB, V13, V19, and VF are used as readvoltages, and top page data is established by six reading operations. Inthe sense amplifier 140, a latch circuit ADL holds the top page data.Top page data T-DAT stored in the ADL is transferred to the XDL and thentransmitted to the controller 200.

1.2.2 Second Example

Now, a second example of the reading method will be described. Thesecond example is not an example of page-by-page reading but is anexample of a method in which the reading operations 1R to 1FR aresequentially performed by a single command input. This method isreferred to as sequential reading. FIG. 5 is a timing chart illustratingthe I/O signal I/O, the ready/busy signal RBn, the selected word linevoltage, and the data held in the latch circuits ADL, BDL, CDL, DDL,EDL, and XDL during the reading operation according to the presentexample. Only differences from the first example will be describedbelow.

As depicted in FIG. 5 , the controller 200 sequentially issues commands“50h” and “ooh”, the address ADD, and a command “30h”. The command “50h”is a prefix command that allows sequential reading to be performed. Thecommand “30h” instructs the NAND flash memory 100 to perform reading.

In response to the command “30h”, the NAND flash memory 100 is set tothe busy state. A difference from the first example is that the voltageof the selected word line WL is sequentially stepped up to V1, V2, V3,VF, V10, V11, V1F. Then, at timings when the voltages are applied, therespective reading operations 1R, 2R, 3R, . . . FR, 10R, 11R, . . . 1FRare performed.

The data read during the reading operation 1R relates to the bottom pageand thus stored in the latch circuit EDL. The data read during thereading operation 2R relates to the lower page and thus stored in thelatch circuit DDL. Then, the data read during the reading operation 3Rrelates to the bottom page, and the arithmetic operation section OPperforms a logical operation on this data and the data already held inthe EDL. The result is held in the EDL. Subsequently, similar operationsare performed.

Then, when the reading operation 15R is completed, the final bottom pagedata B-DAT is stored in the latch circuit EDL (the bottom page data isestablished by the 1R, the 3R, the 5R, the ER, the 10R, and the 15R).The data B-DAT is transferred to the latch circuit XDL. The NAND flashmemory 100 is set to the ready state, and the controller 200 can readthe data B-DAT from the NAND flash memory 100 by toggling the signalREn. Then, the controller 200 issues a command “3Fh” in order to readthe lower page data. As a result, the NAND flash memory 100 is set tothe busy state.

When the reading operation 1BR is completed, the final lower page dataL-DAT is stored in the latch circuit DDL (the lower page data isestablished by the 2R, the AR, the DR, the 11R, the 17R, and the 1BR).The data L-DAT is transferred to the latch circuit XDL. Therefore, atthis time, the controller 200 can read the data L-DAT from the NANDflash memory 100.

Subsequently, similarly, the middle page data is established when thereading operation 1DR is completed, the upper page data is establishedwhen the reading operation 1ER is completed, and the top page data isestablished when the reading operation 1FR is completed. Then, when theestablished data is transferred to the XDL, the controller 200 can readthe data from the NAND flash memory 100.

1.3 Advantageous Effects According to Present Embodiment

In the configuration according to the present embodiment, the NAND flashmemory that can hold 5-bit data (32-level data) establishes the bottompage data, the lower page data, the middle page data, and the top pagedata by six reading operations and establishes the upper page data byseven reading operations. The method of establishing four page by sixreading operations and one page by seven reading operations ishereinafter referred to as “6-6-6-6-7 mapping”. The 6-6-6-6-7 mappingallows the number of reading operations needed to establish the data tobe averaged among the pages. Thus, the reliabilities of data of therespective pages can be uniformed, and the reliability of readingoperations can be improved.

In the page-by-page reading of this embodiment described above, thebottom page, the lower page, the middle page, the upper page, and thetop page are sequentially read in this order by way of example. However,the embodiment is not limited to this order, and the order of pagereading may be changed. This also applies to descriptions of a secondembodiment and subsequent embodiments. Furthermore, the bit sequences ofthe bottom page, the lower page, the middle page, the upper page, andthe top page as described with reference to FIG. 3 may be changed to oneanother. For example, in FIG. 3 , the bit sequence of the middle pagemay be changed to the bit sequence of the upper page. This also appliesto descriptions of the second embodiment and subsequent embodiments.

2. Second Embodiment

Now, a semiconductor memory device according to a second embodiment willbe described. The present embodiment relates to 5-5-7-7-7 mapping, whichdiffers from the first embodiment. Only differences from the firstembodiment will be described below.

2.1 Relationship Between Held Data and Read Voltages for Memory CellTransistor

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating possible data and read voltages formemory cell transistors according to the second embodiment, andcorresponds to FIG. 3 described for the first embodiment (distributionof thresholds is not depicted).

In the present embodiment, the relationship between the “0” to “1F”states that may be assumed by the memory cell transistors and the bottombit, the lower bit, the middle bit, the upper bit, and the top bit areas follows.

-   -   “0” state: “11111” (represented in the order of        “top/upper/middle/lower/bottom”)    -   “1” state: “11110”    -   “2” state: “11010”    -   “3” state: “11011”    -   “4” state: “11001”    -   “5” state: “10001”    -   “6” state: “10011”    -   “7” state: “00011”    -   “8” state: “00001”    -   “9” state: “00101”    -   “A” state: “00111”    -   “B” state: “00110”    -   “C” state: “01110”    -   “D” state: “01111”    -   “E” state: “01011”    -   “F” state: “01001”    -   “10” state: “01101”    -   “11” state: “11101”    -   “12” state: “10101”    -   “13” state: “10111”    -   “14” state: “10110”    -   “15” state: “10010”    -   “16” state: “00010”    -   “17” state: “01010”    -   “18” state: “01000”    -   “19” state: “01100”    -   “1A” state: “00100”    -   “1B” state: “10100”    -   “1C” state: “11100”    -   “1D” state: “11000”    -   “1E” state: “10000”    -   “1F” state: “00000”        In the mapping of this embodiment, the bottom page is read using        the voltages V1, V3, VB, VD and V14. The lower page is read        using the voltages V4, V6, V8, VA, VF, V13 and V18. The middle        page is read using the voltages V2, V9, VE, V10, V15, V19, and        V1D. The upper page is read using the voltages V5, VC, V12, V17,        V1A, V1C, and V1E. The top page is read using the voltages V7,        V11, V16, V1B, and V1F.

2.2 Reading Operation

Now, a method for reading data in the NAND flash memory 100 according tothe present embodiment will be described.

<Page-by-Page Reading>

First, a case of page-by-page reading will be described using FIG. 7 .FIG. 7 is a timing chart illustrating the I/O signal I/O, the ready/busysignal RBn, and the selected word line voltage during a readingoperation in the present example.

As depicted in FIG. 7 , during reading of the bottom page, voltages V1,V3, VB, VD, and V14 are sequentially applied to the selected word lineWL to perform the reading operations 1R, 3R, BR, DR, and 14R. Bottompage data B-DAT is established by the five reading operations.

During reading of the lower page, voltages V4, V6, V8, VA, VF, V13, andV18 are sequentially applied to the selected word line WL to perform thereading operations 4R, 6R, 8R, VR, FR, 13R, and 18R. Lower page dataL-DAT is established by the seven reading operations.

During reading of the middle page, voltages V2, V9, VE, V10, V15, V19,and V1D are sequentially applied to the selected word line WL to performthe reading operations 2R, 9R, ER, 10R, 15R, 19R and 1DR. Middle pagedata M-DAT is established by the seven reading operations.

During reading of the upper page, voltages V5, VC, V12, V17, V1A, V1C,and V1E are sequentially applied to the selected word line WL to performthe reading operations 5R, CR, 12R, 17R, 1AR, 1CR, and 1ER. Upper pagedata U-DAT is established by the seven reading operations.

During reading of the top page, voltages V7, V11, V16, V1B, and V1F aresequentially applied to the selected word line WL to perform the readingoperations 7R, 11R, 16R, 1BR, and 1FR. Top page data T-DAT isestablished by the five reading operations.

<Sequential Reading>

Now, a case of sequential reading will be described using FIG. 8 . FIG.8 is a timing chart illustrating the I/O signal I/O, the ready/busysignal RBn, the selected word line voltage, and the data in the latchcircuits ADL, BDL, CDL, DDL, EDL, and XDL operate during the readingoperation according to the present example.

As depicted in FIG. 8 , a difference from FIG. 5 described in the firstembodiment is that the bottom page data B-DAT is established when thereading operation 14R is completed, and the lower page data L-DAT isestablished when the reading operation 18R is completed.

2.3 Advantageous Effects According to Present Embodiment

According to the present embodiment, even if the rate of occurrence oferrors differs between data to be read, the rates of occurrence oferrors of the respective pages can be uniformed, and the reliability ofreading operations can be improved.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the reading operations 1R and1FR are performed in different page reading operations. The readingoperation 1R specifies a memory cell transistor in an erase state. Thereading operation 1FR specifies a memory cell transistor having thehighest threshold. Among the 32 distributed thresholds, the memory celltransistor of the erase state is more likely to be affected bydisturbance from the environment and to suffer varying threshold thanthose in the other states. More specifically, the threshold may rise tobe the “1” state or “2” state. Thus, in the reading operation 1R, therate of occurrence of errors is higher than those in the other readingoperations. Contrarily, in the “1F” state, the threshold is likely tolower. For example, when some time has elapsed since the data waswritten, the threshold may drop from the “1F” state to the “1E” state orthe “1D” state. Therefore, in the reading operation 1FR also, the rateof occurrence of errors is higher than those in the other readingoperations.

According to the present embodiment, the NAND flash memory, in whicheach memory cell can hold 5-bit data, establishes each of the bottompage data and the top page data by five reading operations andestablishes the other page data by seven reading operations. Such amethod is referred to as “5-5-7-7-7 mapping” in this specification.

In the “5-5-7-7-7 mapping” of this embodiment, the reading operations 1Rand 1FR are respectively assigned to the bottom page and the top page,for which the data is established by the five reading operations. Thus,the number of reading operations for the bottom page and the top page(five) is less than those for the other pages (seven), while theoperations 1R and 1FR with a relatively high rate of occurrence oferrors are assigned to the bottom page and the top page. Therefore, evenif the rate of occurrence of errors is high in the reading operations 1Rand 1FR, the rates of occurrence of errors of the pages can beuniformed, and the reliability of reading operations can be improved, asin the case of first embodiment.

3. Third Embodiment

A semiconductor memory device according to a third embodiment will nowbe described. The present embodiment relates to 4-6-7-7-7 mapping, whichdiffers from the first and second embodiments. Only differences from thefirst and second embodiments will be described below.

3.1 Relationship Between Held Data and Read Levels for Memory CellTransistor

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating possible data and read voltages formemory cell transistors according to the third embodiment, andcorresponds to FIG. 3 described for the first embodiment (distributionof thresholds is not depicted).

In the present embodiment, the relationship between the “0” to “1F”states that may be assumed by the memory cell transistors and the bottombit, the lower bit, the middle bit, the upper bit, and the top bit areas follows.

-   -   “0” state: “11111” (represented in the order of        “top/upper/middle/lower/bottom”)    -   “1” state: “01111”    -   “2” state: “01110”    -   “3” state: “01100”    -   “4” state: “01000”    -   “5” state: “00000”    -   “6” state: “00100”    -   “7” state: “00101”    -   “8” state: “00111”    -   “9” state: “00110”    -   “A” state: “00010”    -   “B” state: “00011”    -   “C” state: “01011”    -   “D” state: “01010”    -   “E” state: “11010”    -   “F” state: “11110”    -   “10” state: “11100”    -   “11” state: “10100”    -   “12” state: “10110”    -   “13” state: “10010”    -   “14” state: “10000”    -   “15” state: “11000”    -   “16” state: “11001”    -   “17” state: “11011”    -   “18” state: “10011”    -   “19” state: “10111”    -   “1A” state: “10101”    -   “1B” state: “11101”    -   “1C” state: “01101”    -   “1D” state: “01001”    -   “1E” state: “00001”    -   “1F” state: “10001”        In the mapping of this embodiment, the bottom page is read using        the voltages V2, V7, V9, VB, VD and V16. The lower page is read        using the voltages V3, V8, V10, V12, V14, V17, and V1A. The        middle page is read using the voltages V4, V6, VA, VF, V13, V19,        and V1D. The upper page is read using the voltages V5, VC, V11,        V15, V18, V1B and V1E. The top page is read using the voltages        V1, VE, V1C, and V1F.

3.2 Reading Operation

Now, a method for reading data in the NAND flash memory 100 according tothe present embodiment will be described.

<Page-by-Page Reading>

First, a case of page-by-page reading will be described using FIG. 10 .FIG. 10 is a timing chart illustrating the I/O signal I/O, theready/busy signal RBn, and the selected word line voltage during areading operation in the present example.

As depicted in FIG. 10 , during reading of the bottom page, voltages V2,V7, V9, VB, VD, and V16 are sequentially applied to the selected wordline WL to perform the reading operations 2R, 7R, 9R, BR, DR, and 16R.Bottom page data B-DAT is established by the six reading operations.

During reading of the lower page, voltages V3, V8, V10, V12, V14, V17,and VIA are sequentially applied to the selected word line WL to performthe reading operations 3R, 8R, 10R, 12R, 14R, 17R, and 1AR. Lower pagedata is established by the seven reading operations.

During reading of the middle page, voltages V4, V6, VA, VF, V13, V19,and V1D are sequentially applied to the selected word line WL to performthe reading operations 4R, 6R, AR, FR, 13R, 19R, and 1DR. Middle pagedata is established by the seven reading operations.

During reading of the upper page, voltages V5, VC, V11, V15, V18, V1B,and V1E are sequentially applied to the selected word line WL to performthe reading operations 5R, CR, 11R, 15R, 18R, 1BR, and 1ER. Upper pagedata is established by the seven reading operations.

During reading of the top page, voltages V1, VE, V1C, and V1F aresequentially applied to the selected word line WL to perform the readingoperations 1R, ER, 1CR and 1FR. Top page data is established by the fourreading operations.

<Sequential Reading>

Now, a case of sequential reading will be described using FIG. 11 . FIG.11 is a timing chart illustrating the I/O signal I/O, the ready/busysignal RBn, the selected word line voltage, and the data in the latchcircuits ADL, BDL, CDL, DDL, EDL, and XDL during the reading operationaccording to the present example.

As depicted in FIG. 11 , a difference from FIG. 5 described in the firstembodiment is that the bottom page data B-DAT is established when thereading operation 16R is completed, and the lower page data L-DAT isestablished when the reading operation 1AR is completed.

3.3 Advantageous Effects According to Present Embodiment

According to the embodiment, the top page data is established by thefour reading operations, the bottom page data is established by the sixreading operations, and the other page data are established by the sevenreading operations. Such a method is referred to as “4-6-7-7-7 mapping”in this specification.

In the “4-6-7-7-7 mapping” of this embodiment, the reading operations 1Rand 1FR are assigned to the top page, for which the data is establishedby the four reading operations. Thus, the number of reading operationsfor the bottom page and the top page (four) is less than those for theother pages (six and seven), while the operations 1R and 1FR with arelatively high rate of occurrence of errors are assigned to the toppage. Therefore, even if the rate of occurrence of errors is high in thereading operations 1R and 1FR, the rates of occurrence of errors of thepages can be uniformed, and the reliability of reading operations can beimproved, as in the case of first embodiment.

4. Fourth Embodiment

Now, a semiconductor memory device according to a fourth embodiment willbe described. The present embodiment relates to 4-6-7-7-7 mapping thatdiffers from the third embodiment. In the following description, onlythe matters different from the first and third embodiments will bedescribed.

4.1 Relationship Between Held Data and Read Levels for Memory CellTransistor

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating possible data and read voltages formemory cell transistors according to the fourth embodiment, andcorresponds to FIG. 3 described for the first embodiment (distributionof thresholds is not depicted).

In the present embodiment, the relationship between the “0” to “1F”states that may be assumed by the memory cell transistors and the bottombit, the lower bit, the middle bit, the upper bit, and the top bit areas follows.

-   -   “0” state: “11111” (represented in the order of        “top/upper/middle/lower/bottom”)    -   “1” state: “11110”    -   “2” state: “11100”    -   “3” state: “11000”    -   “4” state: “10000”    -   “5” state: “00000”    -   “6” state: “00010”    -   “7” state: “00110”    -   “8” state: “00100”    -   “9” state: “10100”    -   “A” state: “10110”    -   “B” state: “10111”    -   “C” state: “10011”    -   “D” state: “10010”    -   “E” state: “11010”    -   “F” state: “01010”    -   “10” state: “01000”    -   “11” state: “01100”    -   “12” state: “01110”    -   “13” state: “01111”    -   “14” state: “00111”    -   “15” state: “00011”    -   “16” state: “01011”    -   “17” state: “11011”    -   “18” state: “11001”    -   “19” state: “11101”    -   “1A” state: “10101”    -   “1B” state: “00101”    -   “1C” state: “01101”    -   “1D” state: “01001”    -   “1E” state: “00001”    -   “1F” state: “10001”        In the mapping of this embodiment, the bottom page is read using        the voltages V1, VB, VD and V13. The lower page is read using        the voltages V2, V6, V8, VA, V10, V12, and V18. The middle page        is read using the voltages V3, V7, VC, V11, V15, V19, and V1D.        The upper page is read using the voltages V4, VE, V14, V16, V1A,        V1C and V1E. The top page is read using the voltages V5, V9, VF,        V17, V1B, and V1F.

4.2 Reading Operation

Now, a method for reading data in the NAND flash memory 100 according tothe present embodiment will be described.

<Page-by-Page Reading>

First, a case of page-by-page reading will be described using FIG. 13 .FIG. 13 is a timing chart illustrating the I/O signal I/O, theready/busy signal RBn, and the selected word line voltage during areading operation in the present example.

As depicted in FIG. 13 , during reading of the bottom page, voltages V1,VB, VD, and V13 are sequentially applied to the selected word line WL toperform the reading operations 1R, BR, DR, and 13R. Bottom page dataB-DAT is established by the four reading operations.

During reading of the lower page, voltages V2, V6, V8, VA, V10, V12, andV18 are sequentially applied to the selected word line WL to perform thereading operations 2R, 6R, 8R, AR, 10R, 12R, and 18R. Lower page data isestablished by the seven reading operations.

During reading of the middle page, voltages V3, V7, VC, V11, V15, V19,and V1D are sequentially applied to the selected word line WL to performthe reading operations 3R, 7R, CR, 11R, 15R, 19R and 1DR. Middle pagedata is established by the seven reading operations.

During reading of the upper page, voltages V4, VE, V14, V16, V1A, V1C,and V1E are sequentially applied to the selected word line WL to performthe reading operations 4R, ER, 14R, 16R, 1AR, 1CR, and 1ER. Upper pagedata is established by the seven reading operations.

During reading of the top page, voltages V5, V9, VF, V17, V1B, and V1Fare sequentially applied to the selected word line WL to perform thereading operations 5R, 9R, FR, 17R, 1BR, and 1FR. Top page data isestablished by the six reading operations.

<Sequential Reading>

Now, a case of sequential reading will be described using FIG. 14 . FIG.14 is a timing chart illustrating the I/O signal I/O, the ready/busysignal RBn, the selected word line voltage, and the data in the latchcircuits ADL, BDL, CDL, DDL, EDL, and XDL during the reading operationaccording to the present example.

As depicted in FIG. 14 , a difference from FIG. 5 described in the firstembodiment is that the bottom page data B-DAT is established when thereading operation 13R is completed.

4.3 Advantageous Effects According to Present Embodiment

In the “4-6-7-7-7 mapping” of this embodiment, the reading operations 1Ris assigned to the bottom page and the top page, for which the data isestablished by the four reading operations, and the reading operation1FR is assigned to the top page, for which the data is established bythe six reading operations. This is because the error occurrence rate inthe reading operation 1R may be higher than that in the readingoperation 1FR. Thus, according to the present embodiment, even if theerror occurrence rate is extremely high in the reading operation 1R, theerror occurrence rate of the pages can be uniformed, and the reliabilityof reading operations can be improved, as in the case of firstembodiment.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the cache memory XDL can be quicklyreleased. That is, in the mapping of the embodiment, the first page datais established during the reading operation 13R (the bottom page in theexample of FIG. 12 ). Therefore, at this time, the NAND flash memory 100can transmit data to the controller 200, enabling a reduction in readlatency.

5. Fifth Embodiment

A semiconductor memory device according to a fifth embodiment will nowbe described. The present embodiment relates to a writing operation anda reading operation for the semiconductor memory device according to thefirst to fourth embodiments. In the following description, only thematters different from the first to fourth embodiments will bedescribed.

5.1 Data Writing Operation

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a data writing operation according to thepresent embodiment. As depicted in FIG. 15 , the host apparatus 300first issues a write instruction for writing data in the NAND flashmemory 100, and transmits the write instruction to the controller 200together with write data (step S10).

The controller 200 causes, for example, the buffer memory 240 to storethe data received from the host apparatus 300. Then, for example, theprocessor 230 divides the data in units of pages (step S20). Theexpression “divides the data” in this step does not necessarily meanthat the data, which is a set of “0” and “1”, is physically divided intoa plurality of bit sequences, but may simply mean that bit sequences tobe assigned to the respective pages of the NAND flash memory 100 aredetermined. Subsequently, an ECC circuit 260 of the controller 200generates a parity based on the data divided in units of pages (stepS21), and generates page data by adding the parity to the data (stepS22). Next, for example, the processor 230 or the ECC circuit 260scrambles the data by exchanging bits of pages among five pages (top,upper, middle, lower, and bottom pages) assigned to one word line WL,and (step S23). The processor 230 issues a write command and transmitsit to the NAND flash memory 100 together with the scrambled data (stepS24).

The NAND flash memory 100 that received the write command writes thescrambled data into the memory cells corresponding to a designatedaddress in the memory cell array 110 (step S30). At this time, the NANDflash memory 100 writes the data in full sequence programming. The fullsequence programming is a method of receiving data of the five pages andperforming the programming based on the data, thereby changing thethreshold of a memory transistor MT of the erase state directly to atargeted threshold. Thus, in the full sequence programming, a writingoperation is performed by using a program verification voltagecorresponding to the targeted threshold. However, the programming methodis not limited to the full sequence programming, and 2-stage programmingmay be used depending on circumstances. In the 2-stage programming, anintermediate threshold between the threshold of the erase state and atargeted threshold is used as a first program verification voltage, anddata is written using the first program verification voltage infirst-stage programming. Thereafter, in second-stage programming, datais written using an actually targeted threshold as a second programverification voltage.

Data is written in the NAND flash memory 100 in the manner as describedabove. Details of the above operation will be described with referenceto FIG. 16 to FIG. 19 . FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram roughlyillustrating a flow of processing of the controller explained in FIG. 15. FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the data scramble methodin step S23). FIG. 18 is a flowchart describing step S23. FIG. 19 is aschematic diagram showing command sequences issued in step S24.

It is assumed that the controller 200 receives write data correspondingto, for example, 20 pages, from the host apparatus 300, as shown in FIG.16 . The controller 200 divides the received data in units of pages asdescribed in connection with step S20. In the example shown in FIG. 16 ,the divided data are respectively referred to as data units DU (DU0 toDU19). One data unit DU has a data size that is smaller than the pagesize. This is because write data for one page is generated by adding aparity to a data unit.

Then, as described above in connection with step S21, the ECC circuit260 generates a parity for each of the data units DU, and applies theparity to the data unit DU. The parts represented by diagonal lines inFIG. 16 are parities. Then, as described above in connection with stepS23, for example, the processor 230 or the ECC circuit 260 scrambles thedata. In FIG. 16 , for example, it is assumed that the data units DU0 toDU4 respectively correspond to the bottom, lower, middle, upper, and toppages of the word line WL0. In this case, the processor 230 or the ECCcircuit 260 scrambles the data among data units DU0 to DU4. It alsoscrambles the parities in the same manner. Furthermore, it is assumedthat data units DU5 to DU9 respectively correspond to the bottom, lower,middle, upper, and top pages of the word line WL1. In this case, theprocessor 230 or the ECC circuit 260 scrambles the data among the dataunits DU5 to DU9. Data are scrambled among data units DU10 to DU14 andamong data units DU15 to DU19 in the same manner. As a result, the dataunits DU0 to DU4 and their parities are scrambled, and data PG0 to PG4to be written in the respective pages of the word line WL0 aregenerated. Furthermore, the data units DU5 to DU9 and their parities arescrambled, and data PG5 to PG9 to be written in the respective pages ofthe word line WL1 are generated. Page data PG10 to PG14 to be written inthe word line WL2 and page data PG15 to PG19 to be written in the wordline WL3 are also generated in the same manner.

A specific example of the data scrambling in step S23 will be describedwith reference to FIG. 17 . The upper part in FIG. 17 represents databefore scrambling (data units DU and parities). For simplicity ofexplanation, a page having a size of 16 bits is illustrated as anexample. Bits B0, B1, B2, . . . B15 included in the bottom page in thediagram correspond to, for example, the data unit DU0 and its parity inFIG. 16 . Bits L0, L1, L2, . . . L15 included in the lower pagecorrespond to the data unit DU1 and its parity. Bits M0, M1, M2, . . .M15 included in the middle page correspond to the data unit DU2 and itsparity. Bits U0, U1, U2, . . . U15 included in the upper page correspondto the data unit DU3 and its parity. Bits TO, T1, T2, . . . T15 includedin the top page correspond to the data unit DU4 and its parity.

The lower part of FIG. 17 represents data after scrambling. For example,the bottom page in the diagram corresponds to the data PG0, the lowerpage corresponds to the data PG1, the middle page corresponds to thedata PG2, the upper page corresponds to the data PG3, and the top pagecorresponds to the data PG4. In the data after scrambling, forreference, only the bottom bits before scrambling are represented withdiagonal lines. As illustrated, data of the least significant bit (firstbit) (TO/U0/M0/L0/B0) remain unchanged, while the data of the second bit(T1/U1/M1/L1/B1) are shifted by one bit between pages. Specifically, thebottom bit is replaced by the top bit T1, the lower bit is replaced bythe bottom bit B1, the middle bit is replaced by the lower bit L1, theupper bit is replaced by the middle bit M1, and the top bit is replacedby the upper bit U1. The data of the third bit (T2/U2/M2/L2/B2) arefurther shifted by one bit between pages. Specifically, the bottom bitis replaced by the upper bit U2, the lower bit is replaced by the topbit T2, the middle bit is replaced by the bottom bit B2, the upper bitis replaced by the lower bit L2, and the top bit is replaced by themiddle bit M2. Subsequently, similar operations are performed.

As a result of the scrambling described above, the bottom page (dataPG0), the lower page (data PG1), the middle page (data PG2), the upperpage (data PG3), and the top page (data PG4) are generated as follows:

-   -   PG0:<B0/T1/U2/M3/L4/B5/T6/U7/M8/L9/B10/T11/U12/M13/L14/B15>    -   PG1:<L0/B1/T2/U3/M4/L5/B6/T7/U8/M9/L10/B11/T12/U13/M14/L15>    -   PG2:<M0/L1/B2/T3/U4/M5/L6/B7/T8/U9/M10/L11/B12/T13/U14/M15>    -   PG3:<U0/M1/L2/B3/T4/U5/M6/L7/B8/T9/U10/M11/L12/B13/T14/U15>    -   PG4:<T0/U1/M2/L3/B4/T5/U6/M7/L8/B9/T10/U11/M12/L13/B14/T15>        The method of scrambling data by exchanging bits among all pages        (in this example, 5 pages) assigned to one word line WL,        described above, is hereinafter referred to as a full page        scramble method.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the scrambling process described above. InFIG. 18 , i is a variable, that represents a bit line number of bit lineBL (BLi). For example, if one page corresponds to 16 bits as in the caseshown in FIG. 17 , i is 0 to 15.

As depicted, for example, the processor 230 determines a bit line BLcorresponding to each bit of write data. In the case of a bit line BL ofthe number corresponding to a multiple of 5, namely, if the remainder ofdividing (i+5) by 5 is 0 (YES in step S200), the bits are not exchangedamong the pages (step S201). The expression “mod(X,Y)” in FIG. 18 is aformula for calculating a remainder of dividing X by Y. Therefore, thetop, upper, middle, lower, and bottom bits corresponding to BL0, BL5,BL10, and BL15 are all maintained as the top, upper, middle, lower, andbottom bits even after the scrambling.

In the case of mod((i+5),5)=1 (YES in step S202), the top, upper,middle, lower, and bottom bits corresponding to BL1, BL6, and BL11respectively change to the bottom, top, upper, middle, and lower bits inthe data after the scrambling (step S203). In other words, the top,upper, middle, lower, and bottom bits in the data after the scramblingare respectively replaced by the upper, middle, lower, bottom, and topbits in the data before the scrambling.

In the case of mod((i+5),5)=2 (YES in step S204), the top, upper,middle, lower, and bottom bits corresponding to BL2, BL7, and BL12respectively change to the lower, bottom, top, upper, and middle, bitsin the data after the scrambling (step S205). In other words, the top,upper, middle, lower, and bottom bits in the data after the scramblingare respectively replaced by the middle, lower, bottom, top, and upperbits in the data before the scrambling.

Furthermore, in the case of mod((i+5),5)=3 (YES in step S206), the top,upper, middle, lower, and bottom bits corresponding to BL3, BL8, andBL13 respectively change to the middle, lower, bottom, top, and upperbits in the data after the scrambling (step S207). In other words, thetop, upper, middle, lower, and bottom bits in the data after thescrambling are respectively replaced by the lower, bottom, top, upper,and middle bits in the data before the scrambling.

In the case of mod((i+5),5)=4 (NO in step S206), the top, upper, middle,lower, and bottom bits corresponding to BL4, BL9, and BL14 respectivelychange to the upper, middle, lower, bottom, and top bits in the dataafter the scrambling (step S208). In other words, the top, upper,middle, lower, and bottom bits in the data after the scrambling arerespectively replaced by the bottom, top, upper, middle, and lower bitsin the data before the scrambling.

Thus, the scrambled data is generated by exchanging the respective bitsof data of the top, upper, middle, lower, and bottom bits among the fivepages. In the example described above, the data is exchanged for eachbit. However, the data may be exchanged in units of columns, not foreach bit. In the NAND flash memory, a plurality of bit lines (forexample, eight consecutive bit lines) BL (BL0 to BL7, BL8 to BL15, etc.)may be handled in units of columns. A column address transmitted fromthe controller 200 designates a set of a plurality of bit lines BL. Inthis case, each of the bits B0 to B15, L0 to L15, . . . T0 to T15 inFIG. 17 and the above explanation may be a series of bits of one column,not 1-bit data. The scramble method is not limited to the rule shown inFIG. 18 , but various methods may be used as long as bits can beexchanged among a plurality of pages.

When the data scrambling is completed as described above, the processor230 of the controller 200 issues a write command for data to the NANDflash memory 100 described above as step S24. FIG. 19 is a conceptualdiagram illustrating command sequences transmitted from the controller200 to the NAND flash memory 100.

As illustrated, the controller 200 first issues a prefix command “X1h”.The command “X1h” declares to the NAND flash memory 100 that data is tobe written using the full page scramble method. In this example, thecommand “X1h” may not necessarily be issued, since the controller 200performs scrambling whereas the NAND flash memory 100 performs normalread processing. Subsequently, the controller 200 issues a firstsequence SQ1 and transfers it to the NAND flash memory 100. The firstsequence SQ1 is a sequence for transferring bottom page data in thewrite data after scrambling. In the first sequence SQ1, the command“01h” is first issued. The command “01h” designates a bottom page.Subsequently, the controller 200 issues a command “80h” to declare thatan address is to be input, and transmits an address ADD, for example,over five cycles. The address ADD designates a block BLK and a page inwhich the bottom page data is to be programmed. Subsequently, thecontroller 200 transmits the bottom page data DAT of the scrambled writedata to the NAND flash memory 100, and finally issues a command “1Ah”.The command “1Ah” is a command to cause the NAND flash memory 100 totake the data in the sense amplifier 140. Then, the NAND flash memory100 is temporarily set to the busy state, while the bottom page data isheld in, for example, the latch circuit ADL.

After that, when the NAND flash memory 100 returns to the ready state,the controller 200 issues a second sequence SQ2 and transfers it to theNAND flash memory 100. The second sequence SQ2 is a sequence fortransferring the lower page data in the write data after scrambling. Thesecond sequence SQ2 differs from the first sequence SQ1 in the followingrespects:

-   -   The command “02h” is issued instead of “01h” and the lower page        is designated.    -   Data DAT corresponds to the lower page in the scrambled data.    -   The lower page data is held by, for example, the latch circuit        BDL.

The controller 200 issues third to fifth sequences SQ3 to SQ5, andtransfers the middle page data, the upper page data and the top pagedata to the NAND flash memory 100. The transferred middle page data, theupper page data, and the top page data is held by, for example, thelatch circuits CDL, DDL, and EDL. In the fifth sequence SQ5, the command“10h” is issued instead of the command “1Ah”. The command “10h”instructs the NAND flash memory 100 to perform an operation to writedata to the memory cell array 110. The NAND flash memory 100 is set tothe busy state in response to the command “10h”, and performs fullsequence programming using data for the received five pages.

5.2 Data Reading Operation

Next, a method of reading the scrambled data will be described. FIG. 20Ais a flowchart showing the reading operation according to the presentembodiment. As shown in FIG. 20A, first, the host apparatus 300 issues adata read instruction from the NAND flash memory 100, and transmits itto the controller 200 (step S11).

In response to the instruction received from the host apparatus 300, thecontroller 200 issues a read command for the data (which is thescrambled data) written in the NAND flash memory 100, and transmits itto the NAND flash memory 100 (step S25).

In response to the received read command, the NAND flash memory 100reads data from the memory cell array 110 (step S31). At this time, thesequential reading of the first embodiment described above is used forreading of the data. As a result, the latch circuits XDL, ADL, BDL, CDL,and DDL of the sense amplifier 140 respectively hold bottom bits(B0/T1/U2/M3/L4/B5/T6/U7/M8/L9/B10/T11/U12/M13/L14/B15) of the scrambleddata, lower bits(L0/B1/T2/U3/M4/L5/B6/T7/U8/M9/L10/B11/T12/U13/M14/L15), middle bits(M0/L1/B2/T3/U4/M5/L6/B7/T8/U9/M10/L11/B12/T13/U14/M15), upper bits(U0/M1/L2/B3/T4/U5/M6/L7/B8/T9/U10/M11/L12/B13/T14/U15), and top bits(T0/U1/M2/L3/B4/T5/U6/M7/L8/B9/T10/U11/M12/L13/B14/T15). Thus, thescrambled data read from the memory cell array 110 is transmitted to thememory controller 200, and held by, for example, the buffer memory 240.

Thereafter, the processor 230 or the ECC circuit 260 of the controller200 exchanges bits among pages, thereby decoding the scrambled data(step S26). In other words, the data of the lower part of FIG. 17 isconverted to the data of the upper part. As a result, the data unit DUand its parity are restored. Then, the ECC circuit 260 performs errorcorrection (step S27), and transmits the error-corrected data to thehost apparatus 300 (step S28).

In the manner described above, the data is read from the NAND flashmemory 100. In the example described above with reference to FIG. 20A,the NAND flash memory 100 performs the sequential reading in response tothe instruction of step S25 from the controller 200. However, thecontroller 200 may issue a page by page reading command, and the NANDflash memory 100 may perform a page by page reading. Such an example isshown in FIG. 20B. FIG. 20B is a flowchart showing an operation of thememory system, in a case where the page by page reading command isissued. Specifically, five pages, namely, bottom, lower, middle, upper,and top pages are read from the NAND flash memory 100.

As shown in FIG. 20B, the host controller 200 issues a read command foreach of the bottom page, the lower page, the middle page, the upperpage, and the top page (step S25-1 to S25-5) upon receipt of a data readinstruction from the host apparatus 300. In response to these commands,the NAND flash memory 100 reads the bottom page data, the lower pagedata, the middle page data, the upper page data, and the top page datafrom the memory cell array 110, and transmits the read data to thecontroller 200 each time the data is read (step S31-1 to S31-5). Afterthe step S31-5, the data for the five pages are completely collected inthe controller 200. The controller 200 decodes the data by exchangingbits among the pages (step S26).

Thus, the controller 200 may request NAND flash memory 100 to perform apage by page reading. In this case, the NAND flash memory 100 may readonly a necessary page, and does not need to perform the full sequentialreading. Therefore, the method shown in FIG. 20B may be preferable in,for example, fifth, sixth, ninth, and tenth embodiments described later.In the following, however, the case of reading data by the method shownin FIG. 20A will be described as an example.

FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagram illustrating command sequences issued instep S25. As illustrated in FIG. 21 , the controller 200 first issues aprefix command “Y1h”. The command “Y1h” declares to the NAND flashmemory 100 that the data written using the full page scramble method isto be read. However, it is the controller 200 that decodes the readscrambled data, whereas the NAND flash memory 100 performs the normalsequential reading. Therefore, the command “Y1h” may be omitted.Thereafter, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the command“00h”, the address ADD, and the command “30h” are issued. Then, the NANDflash memory 100 is set to the busy state, and performs the sequentialreading in response to the command “Y1h”. In the sequential reading inresponse to the command “Y1h”, all of the reading operations 1R to 1FRdescribed with reference to FIG. 3 are performed. This reading method isreferred to as full sequential reading to be distinguished from thesequential reading, which performs only a part of the reading operations1R to 1FR. In this embodiment, the bottom page(B0/T1/U2/M3/L4/B5/T6/U7/M8/L9/B10/T11/U12/M13/L14/B15) of the scrambleddata is held by the latch circuit XDL, the lower page(L0/B1/T2/U3/M4/L5/B6/T7/U8/M9/L10/B11/T12/U13/M14/L15) is held by thelatch circuit ADL, the middle page(M0/L1/B2/T3/U4/M5/L6/B7/T8/U9/M10/L11/B12/T13/U14/M15) is held by thelatch circuit BDL, the upper page(U0/M1/L2/B3/T4/U5/M6/L7/B8/T9/U10/M11/L12/B13/T14/U15) is held by thelatch circuit CDL, and the top page(T0/U1/M2/L3/B4/T5/U6/M7/L8/B9/T10/U11/M12/L13/B14/T15) is held by thelatch circuit DDL.

When the NAND flash memory 100 is returned to the ready state, thecontroller 200 toggles the read enable signal REn. As a result, thebottom page of the scrambled data held by the latch circuit XDL istransmitted to the controller 200.

Subsequently, the controller issues a command “Z1h” and transmits it tothe NAND flash memory 100. The command “Z1h” transfers data betweenlatch circuits in the sense amplifier 140. Specifically, the data in thelatch circuit ADL is transferred to the latch circuit XDL, the data inthe latch circuit BDL is transferred to the latch circuit ADL, the datain the latch circuit CDL is transferred to the latch circuit BDL, thedata in the latch circuit DDL is transferred to the latch circuit CDL,and the data in the latch circuit EDL is transferred to the latchcircuit DDL. When the controller 200 toggles the read enable signal REn,the lower page data is transmitted to the controller 200.

Thereafter, by issuing the command “Z1h” and the read enable signal REn,the middle page data, the upper page data, and the top page data aresequentially transmitted to the controller 200.

In the case of using the method of FIG. 20B, the following commandsequence shown in FIG. 21 is issued in the step S25-1 to S25-5:

-   -   <Y1h><00h><ADD><30h>.

In this manner, the page designated by the address ADD is read.

FIG. 22A is a timing chart showing a change in potential of the selectedword line WL and the data held by each of the latch circuits in thesense amplifier 140, when the step S31 illustrated in FIG. 20A isperformed. The data mapping in FIG. 6 is applied to this case.

As illustrated, the row decoder 120 sequentially applies the voltages V1to V1F to the selected word line WL. As a result, the reading operations1R to 1FR are sequentially performed. In the following, arithmeticoperations in the reading operations 1R to 1FR and data held in each ofthe latch circuits in the sense amplifier 140 will be described. In FIG.22A and the following description, the data held by the sense sectionSA, and the latch circuits ADL, BDL, CDL, DDL and XDL are represented asSA, ADL, BDL, CDL, DDL and XDL. Furthermore, the symbol “˜” represents anegation operation (=NOT), the symbol “xnor” represents an exclusive NORoperation, and the symbol “1” represents a logical add operation (=OR).

-   -   Reading operation 1R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 2R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit BDL.

BDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 3R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SAxnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation 4R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 5R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit CDL.

CDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 6R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SAxnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation 7R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit DDL.

DDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 8R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA|ADL

-   -   Reading operation 9R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=SAxnor BDL

-   -   Reading operation AR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SAxnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation BR: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA|XDL

-   -   Reading operation CR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit CDL.

CDL=SAxnor CDL

-   -   Reading operation DR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SAxnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation ER: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=˜SA|BDL

-   -   Reading operation FR: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA|ADL

-   -   Reading operation 10R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=SAxnor BDL

-   -   Reading operation 11R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit DDL.

DDL=SAxnor DDL

-   -   Reading operation 12R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit CDL.

ADL=˜SA|CDL

-   -   Reading operation 13R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SAxnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation 14R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA|XDL

-   -   Reading operation 15R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=˜SA|BDL

-   -   Reading operation 16R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit DDL.

DDL=˜SA|DDL

-   -   Reading operation 17R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit CDL.

CDL=SAxnor CDL

-   -   Reading operation 18R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA|ADL

-   -   Reading operation 19R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=SAxnor BDL

-   -   Reading operation 1AR: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit CDL.

CDL=˜SA|CDL

-   -   Reading operation 1BR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit DDL.

DDL=SAxnor DDL

-   -   Reading operation 1CR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit CDL.

CDL=SAxnor CDL

-   -   Reading operation 1DR: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=˜SA|BDL

-   -   Reading operation 1ER: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit CDL.

CDL=˜SA|CDL

-   -   Reading operation 1FR: Read result SA is inverted and XNORed        with the data held by the latch circuit DDL.

DDL=˜SAxnor DDL

In the manner described above, the bottom bit (B0/T1/U2/M3/L4/ . . .B15) is established at the reading operation 14R, and held by the latchcircuit XDL. The lower bit (L0/B1/T2/U3/M4/ . . . L15) is established atthe reading operation 18R, and held by the latch circuit ADL. The middlebit (M0/L1/B2/T3/U4/ . . . M15) is established at the reading operation1DR, and held by the latch circuit BDL. The upper bit (U0/M1/L2/B3/T4/ .. . U15) is established at the reading operation 1ER, and held by thelatch circuit CDL. The top bit (T0/U1/M2/L3/B4/ . . . T15) isestablished at the reading operation 1FR, and held by the latch circuitDDL.

Thereafter, the scrambled data in the latch circuits XDL, ADL, BDL, CDL,and DDL are read by the controller 200. FIG. 22B is a flowchart of aprocess of decoding the scrambled data (step S25 in FIG. 20A), that is,a process opposite to the process of FIG. 18 .

As depicted, for example, the processor 230 or the ECC circuit 260determines a bit line BL corresponding to each bit of read data. In thecase of a bit line BL of the number corresponding to a multiple of 5,namely, if the remainder of dividing (i+5) by 5 is 0 (YES in step S300),the bits are not exchanged among the pages (step S301). This is the sameas in the scrambling. Therefore, the top, upper, middle, lower, andbottom bits corresponding to BL0, BL5, BL10, and BL15 are all maintainedas the top, upper, middle, lower, and bottom bits even after thedecoding.

On the other hand, in the case of mod((i+5),5)=1 (YES in step S302), thetop, upper, middle, lower, and bottom bits of the scrambled datacorresponding to BL1, BL6, and BL11 respectively change to the upper,middle, lower, bottom, and top bits (step S303). In other words, thetop, upper, middle, lower, and bottom bits in the decoded data arerespectively replaced by the bottom, top, upper, middle, and lower bitsin the scrambled data.

In the case of mod((i+5),5)=2 (YES in step S304), the top, upper,middle, lower, and bottom bits of the scrambled data corresponding toBL2, BL7, and BL12 respectively change to the middle, lower, bottom,top, and upper bits in the scrambled data (step S305). In other words,the top, upper, middle, lower, and bottom bits in the decoded data arerespectively replaced by the lower, bottom, top, upper, and middle bitsin the scrambled data.

Furthermore, in the case of mod((i+5),5)=3 (YES in step S306), the top,upper, middle, lower, and bottom bits of the scrambled datacorresponding to BL3, BL8, and BL13 respectively change to the lower,bottom, top, upper, and middle bits (step S307). In other words, thetop, upper, middle, lower, and bottom bits in the decoded data arerespectively replaced by the middle, lower, bottom, top, and upper bitsin the scrambled data.

In the case of mod((i+5),5)=4 (NO in step S306), the top, upper, middle,lower, and bottom bits of the scrambled data corresponding to BL4, BL9,and BL14 respectively change to the bottom, top, upper, middle, andlower bits (step S308). In other words, the top, upper, middle, lower,and bottom bits in the decoded data are respectively replaced by theupper, middle, lower, bottom, and top bits in the scrambled data.

Thus, the scrambled data is decoded by exchanging the respective bits ofdata of the top, upper, middle, lower, and bottom bits among the fivepages. In the example described above, the data is exchanged for eachbit. However, the data may be exchanged in units of columns, not foreach bit, as described with reference to FIG. 18 .

5.3 Advantageous Effects According to Present Embodiment

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by scrambling(randomizing) the data, “0” data or “1” data is prevented from beingconcentrated in a specific area. Therefore, bias of charge distributionin the memory cell array 110 is prevented, so that the reliability ofreading data can be improved.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, data is scrambled byexchanging bits among a plurality of pages. Therefore, the embodimentdoes not require a random number, which is generally required forscrambling data, and a random number generating circuit. Accordingly,data can be scrambled by a simple method.

The embodiment has been described with reference to the example shown inFIG. 21 as a command sequence during the reading operation. However, theembodiment is not limited to the example of FIG. 21 . For example,necessary data (latch circuit) may be designated in the commandsequence. Such a case will be described with reference to commandsequences illustrated in FIG. 23A, FIG. 23B, and FIG. 23C.

FIG. 23A shows an example in which the controller 200 requests upperpages (U0/M1/L2/B3/T4/ . . . U15) of scrambled data. As illustrated inFIG. 23A, the controller 200 issues the command “04h” designating anupper page subsequent to the command “Y1h”. Then, for example, thesequencer 170 of the NAND flash memory 100 causes the latch circuit XDLto hold the upper page data of the data read from the memory cell array110 by the full sequential reading. Accordingly, after the NAND flashmemory 100 returns to the ready state, the controller 200 toggles theread enable signal REn, thereby reading the upper page data.

FIG. 23B shows a case in which the controller 200 requests the lowerpage (L0/B1/T2/U3/M4/ . . . L15) and the upper page (U0/M1/L2/B3/T4/ . .. U15) of the scrambled data. As illustrated in FIG. 23B, the controller200 issues a command “02h” designating the lower page following thecommand “Y1h”. Then, for example, the sequencer 170 of the NAND flashmemory 100 causes the latch circuit XDL to hold the lower page data ofthe data read from the memory cell array 110 by the full sequentialreading. As a result, the middle page data is held by the latch circuitADL, the upper page data is held by the latch circuit BDL, the top pagedata is held by the latch circuit CDL, and the bottom page data is heldby the latch circuit DDL. Accordingly, after the NAND flash memory 100returns to the ready state, the controller 200 toggles the read enablesignal REn, thereby reading the lower page data. Furthermore, thecontroller 200 transfers the upper page data in the latch circuit BDL tothe latch circuit ADL by issuing the command “Z1h”, and the upper pagedata in the latch circuit ADL to the latch circuit XDL by issuing thecommand “Z1h” again. Thereafter, the controller 200 toggles the readenable signal REn, thereby reading the upper page data.

FIG. 23C shows a case in which the controller 200 requests the top page(T0/U1/M2/L3/B4/ . . . T15) and the upper page (U0/M1/L2/B3/T4/ . . .U15) of the scrambled data. As illustrated in FIG. 23C, the controller200 issues a command “05h” designating the top page following thecommand “Y1h”. Then, for example, the sequencer 170 of the NAND flashmemory 100 causes the latch circuit XDL to hold the top page data of thedata read from the memory cell array 110 by the full sequential reading.As a result, the bottom page data is held by the latch circuit ADL, thelower page data is held by the latch circuit BDL, the middle page datais held by the latch circuit CDL, and the upper page data is held by thelatch circuit DDL. Accordingly, after the NAND flash memory 100 returnsto the ready state, the controller 200 toggles the read enable signalREn, thereby reading the top page data. Furthermore, by issuing thecommand “Z1h” four times, the upper page data in the latch circuit DDLis transferred to the latch circuit XDL via the latch circuits CDL, BDL,and ADL. Then, the controller 200 toggles the read enable signal REn,thereby reading the upper page data.

As described above, a read command sequence may be issued, whiledesignating necessary pages, namely, latch circuits.

Another case of a command sequence will be described with reference toFIG. 24 and FIG. 25 . In the following case, a command that directlydesignates a second and subsequent page is used to designate data to beread from the sense amplifier 140 instead of designating the number oftimes of issuance of the command “Z1h” as shown in FIG. 23A, FIG. 23B,and FIG. 23C.

If the controller 200 reads only one page, for example, the upper pagedata, the command sequence shown in FIG. 23A applies. That is, thecommand “04h” designating the upper page is issued following the command“Y1h”, and accordingly, the upper page data is stored in the latchcircuit XDL.

FIG. 24 , as well as FIG. 23B, shows a case in which the controller 200requests the lower page (L0/B1/T2/U3/M4/ . . . L15) and the upper page(U0/M1/L2/B3/T4/ . . . U15) of the scrambled data. As illustrated inFIG. 24 , the controller 200 issues a command “02h” designating thelower page following the command “Y1h”. As a result, the lower page datais held by the latch circuit XDL. As in the case of FIG. 23B, the middlepage data is held by the latch circuit ADL, the upper page data is heldby the latch circuit BDL, the top page data is held by the latch circuitCDL, and the bottom page data is held by the latch circuit DDL. Afterreading the lower page data, the controller 200 issues a command “04h”designating the upper page, and subsequently, the command “Z1h”. By thecombination of the commands “04h” and “Z1h”, the upper page data held bythe latch circuit BDL is transferred to the latch circuit XDL, so thatthe controller 200 can read the upper page data.

FIG. 25 , as well as FIG. 23C, shows a case in which the controller 200requests the top page (T0/U1/M2/L3/B4/ . . . T15) and the upper page(U0/M1/L2/B3/T4/ . . . U15) of the scrambled data. As illustrated inFIG. 25 , the controller 200 issues a command “04h” designating the toppage following the command “Y1h”. As a result, the top page data is heldby the latch circuit XDL. As in the case of FIG. 23B, the bottom pagedata is held by the latch circuit ADL, the lower page data is held bythe latch circuit BDL, the middle page data is held by the latch circuitCDL, and the upper page data is held by the latch circuit DDL. Afterreading the top page data, the controller 200 issues a command “04h”designating the upper page, and subsequently, the command “Z1h”. By thecombination of the commands “04h” and “Z1h”, the upper page data held bythe latch circuit DDL is transferred to the latch circuit XDL, so thatthe controller 200 can read the upper page data.

6. Sixth Embodiment

A semiconductor memory device according to a sixth embodiment will nowbe described. The present embodiment relates to a data scramble methodthat differs from the fifth embodiment. In the following description,only the matters different from the fifth embodiment will be described.

6.1 Data Writing Operation

The data writing operation is the same as that illustrated in FIG. 15for the fifth embodiment. The sixth embodiment differs from the fifthembodiment in data scramble method. The scrambling method will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 26 . FIG. 26 corresponds to FIG. 17used in the explanation of the fifth embodiment. The upper part in FIG.26 represents data before scrambling (data units DU and parities). Thelower part of FIG. 26 represents data after scrambling. In the dataafter scrambling in FIG. 26 , for reference, the bottom and lower bitsbefore scrambling are represented with diagonal lines.

As illustrated in FIG. 26 , the scrambling method of the presentembodiment is performed as follows:

-   -   The bottom page and the upper page are scrambled, so that the        bottom page and the upper page of scrambled data are generated.        At this time, bottom bits are replaced by upper bits at every        other bit, and upper bits are replaced by bottom bits at every        other bit.    -   The bits in the middle page are not replaced.    -   The lower page and the top page are scrambled, so that the lower        page and the top page of scrambled data are generated. At this        time, lower bits are replaced by top bits at every other bit,        and top bits are replaced by lower bits at every other bit.

As a result of the scrambling described above, the bottom page (data PG0mentioned in FIG. 16 ), the lower page (data PG1), the middle page (dataPG2), the upper page (data PG3), and the top page (data PG4) aregenerated as follows:

-   -   PG0:<B0/U1/B2/U3/B4/U5/B6/U7/B8/U9/B10/U11/B12/U13/B14/U15>    -   PG1:<L0/T1/L2/T3/L4/T5/L6/T7/L8/T9/L10/T11/L12/T13/L14/T15>    -   PG2:<M0/M1/M2/M3/M4/M5/M6/M7/M8/M9/M10/M11/M12/M13/M14/M15>    -   PG3:<U0/B1/U2/B3/U4/B5/U6/B7/U8/B9/U10/B11/U12/B13/U14/B15>    -   PG4:<T0/L1/T2/L3/T4/L5/T6/L7/T8/L9/T10/L11/T12/L13/T14/L15>        The method of scrambling data by exchanging bits among some of        the pages (in this example, 5 pages) assigned to one word line        WL, described above, is hereinafter referred to as a partial        page scramble method. In the partial page scramble method of        this embodiment, two pages (the bottom page and the upper page)        are scrambled, one page (the middle page) is maintained, and        further two pages (the lower page and the top page) are        scrambled. This method may be referred to as “(2+1+2)        scrambling”. Furthermore, in the following description, the        bottom page, the lower page, the middle page, the upper page,        and the top page in the scrambled data may be referred to as the        scrambled bottom page, the scrambled lower page, the scrambled        middle page, the scrambled upper page, and the scrambled top        page.

In the (2+1+2) scrambling, the two pages to be scrambled are not limitedto those shown in FIG. 26 . For example, the bottom page and the upperpage may be scrambled, and further the middle page and the top page maybe scrambled; that is, the pages to be scrambled are not particularlylimited. Furthermore, the data may be exchanged between pages in unitsof columns or in any other units, not in units of bits, as describedabove in connection with the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 27 , corresponding to FIG. 19 which illustrates the fifthembodiment, is a conceptual diagram illustrating write command sequencestransmitted from the controller 200 to the NAND flash memory 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 27 , the controller 200 first issues a prefixcommand “X2h”. The command “X2h” declares to the NAND flash memory 100that data is to be written using the partial page scramble method, inparticular the (2+1+2) scrambling. Of course, as in the fifthembodiment, the issuance of the command “X2h” may be omitted, since thecontroller 200 executes the data scrambling process. Then, the first tofifth sequences SQ1 to SQ5 are issued. The data transmitted in the firstto fifth sequences SQ1 to SQ5 is scrambled data described with referenceto FIG. 26 . In response to the command “10h”, the NAND flash memory 100is set to the busy state, and performs the full sequence programmingusing data for the received five pages.

6.2 Data Reading Operation

Next, a method of reading the scrambled data will be described. Thebasic flow of the reading method is the same as that of the fifthembodiment illustrated in FIG. 20A; however, the sixth embodimentdiffers from the fifth embodiment in sequential reading method, which isdetermined by a prefix command issued from the controller 200.

FIG. 28A, FIG. 28B, and FIG. 28C are conceptual diagrams illustratingcommand sequences issued in step S25. FIG. 28A shows a case in which thescrambled bottom page (B0/U1/B2/U3/B4/ . . . U15) and the scrambledupper page (U0/B1/U2/B3/U4 . . . B15) are read. FIG. 28B shows a case inwhich the scrambled middle page (M0/M1/M2/ . . . M15) is read. FIG. 28Cshows a case in which the scrambled lower page (L0/T1/L2/T3/L4/ . . .T15) and the scrambled top page (T0/L1/T2/L3/T4 . . . L15) are read.

First, the case of FIG. 28A, in which the scrambled bottom page and thescrambled upper page are read, will be described. As illustrated in FIG.28A, the controller 200 first issues a prefix command “Y2h”. The command“Y2h” declares to the NAND flash memory 100 that the bottom page(B0/U1/B2/U3/B4/ . . . U15) and the upper page (U0/B1/U2/B3/U4 . . .B15) of the data scrambled by the (2+1+2) scrambling are to be read.Subsequently, as in the fifth embodiment, the command “00h”, the addressADD and the command “30h” are issued. Then, the NAND flash memory 100 isset to the busy state, and in response to the command “Y2h”, performsthe sequential reading to read the scrambled bottom page and thescrambled upper page. The sequential reading for only some of the pagesis hereinafter referred to as partial sequential reading. As a result,the scrambled bottom page (B0/U1/B2/U3/B4/ . . . U15) is held by thelatch circuit XDL, and the scrambled upper page (U0/B1/U2/B3/U4 . . .B15) is held by the latch circuit ADL. Furthermore, the controller 200issues the command “Z1h”, so that the scrambled upper page data istransferred from the latch circuit ADL to the latch circuit XDL.

Next, the case of FIG. 28B, in which the scrambled middle page is read,will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 28B, the controller 200 firstissues a prefix command “Y3h”. The command “Y3h” declares to the NANDflash memory 100 that the middle page (M0/M1/M2/ . . . M15) of the datascrambled by the (2+1+2) scrambling are to be read. Subsequently, as inthe fifth embodiment, the command “00h”, the address ADD and the command“30h” are issued. Then, the NAND flash memory 100 is set to the busystate, and in response to the command “Y3h”, performs the partialsequential reading to read the scrambled middle page. As a result, thescrambled middle page data is held by the latch circuit XDL.

Next, the case of FIG. 28C, in which the scrambled lower page data andthe scrambled top page data are read, will be described. As illustratedin FIG. 28C, the controller 200 first issues a prefix command “Y4h”. Thecommand “Y4h” declares to the NAND flash memory 100 that the lower page(L0/T1/L2/T3/L4/ . . . T15) and the top page (T0/L1/T2/L3/T4 . . . L15)of the data scrambled by the (2+1+2) scrambling are to be read.Subsequently, as in the fifth embodiment, the command “00h”, the addressADD and the command “30h” are issued. Then, the NAND flash memory 100 isset to the busy state, and in response to the command “Y4h”, performsthe partial sequential reading to read the scrambled lower page and thescrambled top page. As a result, the scrambled lower page(L0/T1/L2/T3/L4/ . . . T15) is held by the latch circuit XDL, and thescrambled top page (T0/L1/T2/L3/T4 . . . L15) is held by the latchcircuit ADL. Furthermore, the controller 200 issues the command “Z1h”,so that the scrambled top page data is transferred from the latchcircuit ADL to the latch circuit XDL.

FIG. 29A is a timing chart of the case where the command sequence ofFIG. 28A is issued, showing a change in potential of the selected wordline WL and data held in each of the latch circuits in the senseamplifier 140, when step S31 in FIG. 20A is performed.

As illustrated, the row decoder 120 sequentially applies the voltagesV1, V3, V5, VB, VC, VD, V12, V14, V17, V1A, V1C, and V1E to the selectedword line WL. As a result, the reading operations 1R, 3R, 5R, BR, CR,DR, 12R, 14R, 17R, 1AR, 1CR, and 1ER are sequentially performed. In thefollowing, arithmetic operations in the respective reading operationsand data held in each of the latch circuits in the sense amplifier 140will be described.

-   -   Reading operation 1R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 3R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SAxnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation 5R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation BR: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA|XDL

-   -   Reading operation CR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SAxnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation DR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SAxnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation 12R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA|ADL

-   -   Reading operation 14R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA|XDL

-   -   Reading operation 17R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SAxnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation 1AR: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA|ADL

-   -   Reading operation 1CR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SAxnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation 1ER: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA|ADL

Of the data scrambled as described above, the scrambled bottom page datais established at the reading operation 14R, and the scrambled upperpage data is established at the reading operation 1ER.

Next, the case in which the command sequence shown in FIG. 28B is issuedwill be described with reference to FIG. 29B. As illustrated, the rowdecoder 120 sequentially applies the voltages V2, V9, VE, V10, V15, V19,and V1D to the selected word line WL. As a result, the readingoperations 2R, 9R, ER, 10R, 15R, 19R, and 1DR are sequentiallyperformed. In the following, arithmetic operations in the respectivereading operations and data held in each of the latch circuits in thesense amplifier 140 will be described.

-   -   Reading Operation 2R: XDL=˜SA    -   Reading Operation 9R: XDL=SA xnor XDL    -   Reading Operation ER: XDL=˜SA|XDL    -   Reading Operation 10R: XDL=SA xnor XDL    -   Reading Operation 15R: XDL=˜SA|XDL    -   Reading Operation 19R: XDL=SA xnor XDL    -   Reading Operation 1DR: XDL=˜SA|XDL

In this manner, the scrambled middle page data are established.

Next, the case in which the command sequence shown in FIG. 28C is issuedwill be described with reference to FIG. 29C. As illustrated, the rowdecoder 120 sequentially applies the voltages V4, V6, V7, V8, VA, VF,V11, V13, V16, V18, V1B, and V1F to the selected word line WL. As aresult, the reading operations 4R, 6R, 7R, 8R, AR, FR, 11R, 13R, 16R,18R, 1BR, and 1FR are sequentially performed. In the following,arithmetic operations in the respective reading operations and data heldin each of the latch circuits in the sense amplifier 140 will bedescribed.

-   -   Reading Operation 4R: XDL=˜SA    -   Reading Operation 6R: XDL=SA xnor XDL    -   Reading Operation 7R: ADL=˜SA    -   Reading Operation 8R: XDL=˜SA|XDL    -   Reading Operation AR: XDL=˜SA xnor XDL    -   Reading Operation FR: XDL=˜SA|XDL    -   Reading Operation 11R: ADL=SA xnor ADL    -   Reading Operation 13R: XDL=SA xnor XDL    -   Reading Operation 16R: ADL=˜SA|ADL    -   Reading Operation 18R: XDL=˜SA|XDL    -   Reading Operation 1BR: ADL=SA xnor ADL    -   Reading Operation 1FR: ADL=˜SA xnor ADL

Of the data scrambled as described above, the scrambled lower page datais established by the reading operation 18R, and the scrambled top pagedata is established by the reading operation 1FR.

6.3 Advantageous Effects According to Present Embodiment

The method of the present embodiment described above, for example, maybe used as the data scramble method. According to the presentembodiment, since not full sequential reading but partial sequentialreading may be performed to read data, the latency in data reading canbe reduced.

In this embodiment described above, the command sequences shown in FIG.28A, FIG. 28B, and FIG. 28C are used in reading operations. However, forexample, necessary data (latch circuits) may be designated in thecommand sequences, as in the examples illustrated in FIG. 23A, FIG. 23B,and FIG. 23C concerning the fifth embodiment. Such a case will bedescribed with reference to command sequences shown in FIG. 30A and FIG.30B.

FIG. 30A shows a case in which the controller 200 requests the scrambledupper page data (U0/B1/U2/B3/U4/ . . . B15). As illustrated in FIG. 30A,the controller 200 issues a command “04h” designating the upper pagefollowing the command “Y2h”. Then, for example, the sequencer 170 of theNAND flash memory 100 reads the scrambled upper page data(U0/B1/U2/B3/U4 . . . B15) from the memory cell array 110 through thepartial sequential reading, and causes the latch circuit XDL to hold thedata. Accordingly, after the NAND flash memory 100 returns to the readystate, the controller 200 toggles the read enable signal REn, therebyreading the scrambled upper page data.

FIG. 30B shows a case in which the controller 200 requests the scrambledbottom page data and the scrambled upper page data. As illustrated inFIG. 30B, the controller 200 issues a command “01h” designating thebottom page following the command “Y2h”. Then, for example, thesequencer 170 of the NAND flash memory 100 causes the latch circuit XDLto hold the scrambled bottom page data (B0/U1/B2/U3/B4/ . . . U15) ofthe data read from the memory cell array 110 through the partialsequential reading, and causes the latch circuit ADL to hold thescrambled upper page data (U0/B1/U2/B3/U4 . . . B15) of the data readfrom the memory cell array 110 through the partial sequential reading.As a result, the controller 200 can read the scrambled bottom page data,and can further transfer the scrambled upper page data in the latchcircuit ADL to the latch circuit XDL by issuing the command “Z1h”.

7. Seventh Embodiment

A semiconductor memory device according to a seventh embodiment will nowbe described. The present embodiment relates to a data scramble methodthat differs from the fifth and sixth embodiments. In the followingdescription, only the matters different from the fifth and sixthembodiments will be described.

7.1 Data Writing Operation

The data writing operation is the same as that illustrated in FIG. 15for the fifth embodiment. The present embodiment differs from the fifthembodiment in data scrambling method. The scrambling method will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 31 . FIG. 31 corresponds to FIG. 17used in the explanation of the fifth embodiment. The upper part in FIG.31 represents data before scrambling (data units DU and parities). Thelower part of FIG. 31 represents data after scrambling. In the dataafter scrambling in FIG. 31 , for reference, the bottom and lower bitsbefore scrambling are represented with diagonal lines.

As illustrated in FIG. 31 , the scrambling method of the presentembodiment is performed as follows:

-   -   The bottom page, the middle page, and the top page are        scrambled, so that the bottom page, the middle page, and the top        page of scrambled data is generated. At this time, the bottom        bit, middle bit, and top bit are respectively replaced by the        top bit, bottom bit, and middle bit at the second bit, and        further replaced by the middle bit, top bit, and bottom bit at        the third bit. The same applies to the fourth and subsequent        bits.    -   The lower page and the upper page are scrambled, so that the        lower page and the upper page of scrambled data is generated. At        this time, lower bits are replaced by upper bits at every other        bit, and upper bits are replaced by lower bits at every other        bit.

As a result of the scrambling described above, the bottom page (data PG0mentioned in FIG. 16 ), the lower page (data PG1), the middle page (dataPG2), the upper page (data PG3), and the top page (data PG4) aregenerated as follows:

-   -   PG0:<B0/T1/M2/B3/T4/M5/B6/T7/M8/B9/T10/M11/B12/T13/M14/B15>    -   PG1:<L0/U1/L2/U3/L4/U5/L6/U7/L8/U9/L10/U11/L12/U13/L14/U15>    -   PG2:<M0/B1/T2/M3/B4/T5/M6/B7/T8/M9/B10/T11/M12/B13/T14/M15>    -   PG3:<U0/L1/U2/L3/U4/L5/U6/L7/U8/L9/U10/L11/U12/L13/U14/L15>    -   PG4:<T0/M1/B2/T3/M4/B5/T6/M7/B8/T9/M10/B11/T12/M13/B14/T15>        Thus, scrambling among three pages (bottom, middle, and top        pages) is performed, and further scrambling between the        remaining two pages (lower and upper pages) is performed. Such a        method may be referred to as “(3+2) scrambling”.

In the (3+2) scrambling, three pages or two pages to be scrambled arenot limited to those shown in FIG. 31 . The bits may be exchanged amongthe pages of all possible combinations. Furthermore, the data may beexchanged between pages in units of columns or in any other units, notin units of bits, as described above in connection with the fifthembodiment.

In the write command sequence of this embodiment, a command “X3h” isissued as a prefix command, instead of the command “X2h” which is usedin the sixth embodiment described with reference to FIG. 27 . Thecommand “X3h” declares to the NAND flash memory 100 that data is to bewritten using the partial page scramble method, in particular, the (3+2)scrambling. Then, the first to fifth sequences SQ1 to SQ5 are issued asin the case of FIG. 27 . The data transmitted by the first to fifthsequences SQ1 to SQ5 are scrambled data as described above withreference to FIG. 31 . Since the controller 200 scrambles the data, thecommand “X3h” in particular may not necessarily be issued. In responseto the command “10h”, the NAND flash memory 100 is set to the busystate, and performs the full sequence programming using data for thereceived five pages.

7.2 Data Reading Operation

Next, a method of reading the scrambled data will be described. Thebasic flow of the reading method is the same as that of the fifthembodiment illustrated in FIG. 20A (or FIG. 20B); however, the seventhembodiment differs from the fifth embodiment in the sequential readingmethod, which is determined by a prefix command issued from thecontroller 200.

FIG. 32A and FIG. 32B are conceptual diagrams illustrating the commandsequences issued in step S25. FIG. 32A shows a case in which thescrambled bottom page (B0/T1/M2/B3/T4/M5/ . . . B15), the scrambledmiddle page (M0/B1/T2/M3/B4/T5/ . . . M15), and the scrambled top page(T0/M1/B2/T3/M4/B5/ . . . T15) are read. FIG. 32B shows a case in whichthe scrambled lower page (L0/U1/L2/U3/ . . . U15) and the scrambledupper page (U0/L1/U2/L3/ . . . L15) are read.

First, the case of FIG. 32A, in which the scrambled bottom page, thescrambled middle page, and the scrambled top page are read, will bedescribed. As illustrated in FIG. 32A, the controller 200 first issues aprefix command “Y5h”. The command “Y5h” declares to the NAND flashmemory 100 that the three pages (the bottom page (B0/T1/M2/B3/T4/M5/ . .. B15), the middle page (M0/B1/T2/M3/B4/T5/ . . . M15), and the top page(T0/M1/B2/T3/M4/B5/ . . . T15)) of the data scrambled by the (3+2)scrambling are to be read. Subsequently, as in the fifth embodiment, thecommand “00h”, the address ADD and the command “30h” are issued. Then,the NAND flash memory 100 is set to the busy state, and in response tothe command “Y5h”, performs the partial sequential reading to read thescrambled bottom page (B0/T1/M2/ . . . B15), the scrambled middle page(M0/B1/T2/ . . . M15), and the scrambled top page (T0/M1/B2/ . . . T15).As a result, the scrambled bottom page (B0/T1/M2/ . . . B15) is held bythe latch circuit XDL, the scrambled middle page (M0/B1/T2/ . . . M15)is held by the latch circuit ADL, and the scrambled top page (T0/M1/B2/. . . T15) is held by the latch circuit BDL. Thus, the controller 200issues the command “Z1h” after reading the scrambled bottom page, sothat the scrambled middle page and the scrambled top page can besequentially read.

Next, the case of FIG. 32B, in which the scrambled lower page and thescrambled upper page are read, will be described. As illustrated in FIG.32B, the controller 200 first issues a prefix command “Y6h”. The command“Y6h” declares to the NAND flash memory 100 that two pages of the datascrambled by the (3+2) scrambling (the lower page (L0/U1/L2/U3/ . . .U15) and the upper page (U0/L1/U2/L3/ . . . L15)) are to be read.Subsequently, as in the fifth embodiment, the command “00h”, the addressADD and the command “30h” are issued. Then, the NAND flash memory 100 isset to the busy state, and in response to the command “Y6h”, performsthe partial sequential reading to read the scrambled lower page and thescrambled upper page. As a result, the scrambled lower page(L0/U1/L2/U3/ . . . U15) is held by the latch circuit XDL, and thescrambled upper page (U0/L1/U2/L3/ . . . L15) is held by the latchcircuit ADL. Furthermore, the controller 200 issues the command “Z1h”,so that the scrambled upper page data is transferred from the latchcircuit ADL to the latch circuit XDL.

FIG. 33A is a timing chart of the case where the command sequence ofFIG. 32A is issued, showing a change in potential of the selected wordline WL and data held in each of the latch circuits in the senseamplifier 140, when step S31 in FIG. 20A is performed.

As illustrated, the row decoder 120 sequentially applies the voltagesV1, V2, V3, V7, V9, VB, VD, VE, V10, V11, V14, V15, V16, V19, V1B, V1D,and V1F to the selected word line WL. As a result, the readingoperations 1R, 2R, 3R, 7R, 9R, BR, DR, ER, 10R, 11R, 14R, 15R, 16R, 19R,1BR, 1DR, and 1FR are sequentially performed. In the following,arithmetic operations in the respective reading operations and data heldin each of the latch circuits in the sense amplifier 140 will bedescribed.

-   -   Reading operation 1R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 2R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 3R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA xnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation 7R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit BDL.

BDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 9R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SA xnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation BR: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA|XDL

-   -   Reading operation DR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA xnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation ER: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA|ADL

-   -   Reading operation 10R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SA xnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation 11R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=SA xnor BDL

-   -   Reading operation 14R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA|XDL

-   -   Reading operation 15R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA|ADL

-   -   Reading operation 16R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=˜SA|BDL

-   -   Reading operation 19R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SA xnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation 1BR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=SA xnor BDL

-   -   Reading operation 1DR: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA|ADL

-   -   Reading operation 1FR: Read result SA is inverted and XNORed        with the data held by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=˜SA xnor BDL

Of the data scrambled as described above, the scrambled bottom page datais established at the reading operation 14R, the scrambled middle pagedata is established at the reading operation 1DR, and the scrambled toppage data is established at the reading operation 1FR.

Next, the case in which the command sequence shown in FIG. 32B is issuedwill be described with reference to FIG. 33B. As illustrated, the rowdecoder 120 sequentially applies the voltages V4, V5, V6, V8, VA, VC,VF, V12, V13, V17, V18, V1A, V1C, and V1E to the selected word line WL.As a result, the reading operations 4R, 5R, 6R, 8R, AR, CR, FR, 12R,13R, 17R, 18R, 1AR, 1CR, and 1ER are sequentially performed. In thefollowing, arithmetic operations in the respective reading operationsand data held in each of the latch circuits in the sense amplifier 140will be described.

-   -   Reading operation 4R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 5R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 6R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA xnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation 8R: Read result SA is ORed with the data held        by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA|XDL

-   -   Reading operation AR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA xnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation CR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SA xnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation FR: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA|XDL

-   -   Reading operation 12R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA|ADL

-   -   Reading operation 13R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

ADL=SA xnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation 17R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SA xnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation 18R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA|XDL

-   -   Reading operation 1CR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SA xnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation 1ER: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA|ADL

Of the data scrambled as described above, the scrambled lower page datais established at the reading operation 18R, and the scrambled upperpage data is established at the reading operation 1ER.

7.3 Advantageous Effects According to Present Embodiment

The method of the present embodiment described above, for example, maybe used as the data scramble method.

In this embodiment described above, the command sequences shown in FIG.32A and FIG. 32B are used in reading operations. However, for example,necessary data (latch circuits) may be designated in the commandsequences, as in the examples illustrated in FIG. 23A, FIG. 23B, andFIG. 23C concerning the fifth embodiment. Such a case will be describedwith reference to command sequences shown in FIG. 34A and FIG. 34B.

FIG. 34A shows a case in which the controller 200 requests the scrambledupper page data (U0/L1/U2/L3/ . . . L15). As illustrated in FIG. 34A,the controller 200 issues a command “04h” designating the upper pagefollowing the command “Y6h”. Then, for example, the sequencer 170 of theNAND flash memory 100 reads the scrambled upper page data (L0/U1/L2/ . .. U15) from the memory cell array 110 through the partial sequentialreading, and causes the latch circuit XDL to hold the data. Accordingly,after the NAND flash memory 100 returns to the ready state, thecontroller 200 toggles the read enable signal REn, thereby reading thescrambled upper page data.

FIG. 34B shows a case in which the controller 200 requests the scrambledlower page (L0/U1/L2/U3/ . . . U15) and the scrambled upper page(U0/L1/U2/L3/ . . . L15). As illustrated in FIG. 34B, the controller 200issues a command “02h” designating the lower page following the command“Y6h”. Then, for example, the sequencer 170 of the NAND flash memory 100causes the latch circuit XDL to hold the scrambled lower page data(L0/U1/L2/U3/ . . . U15) read from the memory cell array 110 through thepartial sequential reading, and causes the latch circuit ADL to hold thescrambled upper page data (U0/L1/U2/L3/ . . . L15) read from the memorycell array 110 through the partial sequential reading. As a result, thecontroller 200 can read the scrambled lower page data, and furthermore,the controller 200 issues the command “Z1h”, so that the scrambled upperpage data in the latch circuit ADL can be transferred to the latchcircuit XDL and then read.

8. Eighth Embodiment

Next, a semiconductor memory device according to an eighth embodimentwill be described. In the eighth embodiment, the fifth to seventhembodiments are applied to a semiconductor memory device including amemory cell configured to hold 4-bit data. In the following description,only the matters different from the fifth to seventh embodiments will bedescribed.

8.1 Data Held in Memory Cell Transistor and Threshold Voltage

Data held in memory cell transistors MT, threshold voltages and readvoltages of the respective data, according to the present embodiment,will be explained with reference to FIG. 35 . FIG. 35 is a diagramillustrating possible data, threshold distribution, and voltages used inreading of memory cell transistors MT.

As described above, the memory cell transistors MT can take 16 states inaccordance with their threshold voltages, that is, the “0” state to the“F” state in the first embodiment. The threshold distribution isobtained by writing 4-bit (4-page) data constituted by the lower bit,middle bit, upper bit, and top bit. The relationship between the above16 states and the lower bit, middle bit, upper bit, and top bit is asfollows:

-   -   “0” state: “1111” (represented in the order of        “top/upper/middle/lower”)    -   “1” state: “1110”    -   “2” state: “1010”    -   “3” state: “1000”    -   “4” state: “1001”    -   “5” state: “0001”    -   “6” state: “0000”    -   “7” state: “0010”    -   “8” state: “0110”    -   “9” state: “0100”    -   “A” state: “1100”    -   “B” state: “1101”    -   “C” state: “0101”    -   “D” state: “0111”    -   “E” state: “0011”    -   “F” state: “1011”        In this embodiment also, only one of the four bits is different        between data corresponding to adjacent two states.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 35 , the lower page is read by readingoperations 1R, 4R, 6R, and BR using the voltages V1, V4, V6, and VB. Themiddle page is read by reading operations 3R, 7R, 9R, and DR using thevoltages V3, V7, V9, and VD. The upper page is read by readingoperations 2R, 8R, and ER using the voltages V2, V8, and VE. The upperpage is read by reading operations 5R, AR, CR and FR using the voltagesV5, VA, VC, and VF. Thus, the present embodiment uses “3-4-4-4 mapping”.

8.2 Data Writing Operation

The method of writing data in the present embodiment is basically thesame as that shown in FIG. 15 relating to the fifth embodiment. Thepresent embodiment differs from the fifth embodiment in the followingrespects.

-   -   Data scramble method

In this embodiment, data is scrambled by exchanging bits among 4 pages(top, upper, middle, and lower pages), which are assigned to one wordline WL in step S23 in FIG. 15 . Therefore, in the case of FIG. 16 , thedata units DU0 to DU3 and their parities are scrambled, and data PG0 toPG3 to be written in the respective pages of the word line WL0 aregenerated. Furthermore, the data units DU4 to DU7 and their parities arescrambled, and data PG4 to PG7 to be written in the word line WL1 aregenerated. Furthermore, the data units DU8 to DU11 and their paritiesare scrambled, and data PG8 to PG11 to be written in the word line WL2are generated. Subsequently, similar operations are performed.

The scramble method of the present embodiment is the full page scramblemethod of the fifth embodiment described above. FIG. 36A corresponds toFIG. 17 used in the explanation of the fifth embodiment. The upper partin FIG. 36A represents data before scrambling (data units DU andparities). The lower part in FIG. 36A represents data after scrambling(data units DU and parities). Also in the lower part in FIG. 36A, forreference, the lower bits before scrambling are represented withdiagonal lines.

As shown in the upper part in FIG. 36A, the data before scrambling ofthis embodiment is the same as that shown in the upper part of FIG. 17except that the bottom page is omitted.

In the data after scrambling shown in the lower part in FIG. 36A, thelower page corresponds to the data PG0, the middle page corresponds tothe data PG1, the upper page corresponds to the data PG2, and the toppage corresponds to the data PG3. As shown, the data of the leastsignificant bit (first bit) (T0/U0/M0/L0) remain unchanged. The data ofthe second bit (T1/U1/M1/L1) is shifted by one bit between pages.Specifically, the lower bit is replaced by the top bit T1, the middlebit is replaced by the lower bit L1, the upper bit is replaced by themiddle bit M1, and the top bit is replaced by the upper bit U1. The dataof the third bit (T2/U2/M2/L2) is shifted further by one bit betweenpages. In other words, the lower bit is replaced by the upper bit U2,the middle bit is replaced by the top bit T2, the upper bit is replacedby the lower bit L2, and the top bit is replaced by the middle bit M2.The same applies to the fourth and subsequent bits.

As a result of the scrambling described above, the lower page (dataPG0), the middle page (data PG1), the upper page (data PG2), and the toppage (data PG3) are generated as follows:

-   -   PG0:<L0/T1/U2/M3/L4/T5/U6/M7/L8/T9/U10/M11/L12/T13/U14/M15>    -   PG1:<M0/L1/T2/U3/M4/L5/T6/U7/M8/L9/T10/U11/M12/L13/T14/U15>    -   PG2:<U0/M1/L2/T3/U4/M5/L6/T7/U8/M9/L10/T11/U12/M13/L14/T15>    -   PG3:<T0/U1/M2/L3/T4/U5/M6/L7/T8/U9/M10/L11/T12/U13/M14/L15>        Thus, the data is scrambled by exchanging bits among all pages        (in this example, 4 pages) assigned to one word line WL.        Furthermore, in the following description, the lower page, the        middle page, the upper page, and the top page in the scrambled        data may be referred to as the scrambled lower page, the        scrambled middle page, the scrambled upper page, and the        scrambled top page.

FIG. 36B is a flowchart of the scrambling process, and corresponds toFIG. 18 described above for the fifth embodiment. As depicted, forexample, the processor 230 determines a bit line BL corresponding toeach bit of write data. In the case of a bit line BL of the numbercorresponding to a multiple of 4, namely, if the remainder of dividing(i+4) by 4 is 0 (YES in step S210), the bits are not exchanged among thepages (step S211). Therefore, the top, upper, middle, and lower bitscorresponding to BL0, BL4, BL8, and BL12 are all maintained as the top,upper, middle, and lower bits even after the scrambling.

In the case of mod((i+4),4)=1 (YES in step S212), the top, upper,middle, and lower bits corresponding to BL1, BL5, BL9 and BL13respectively change to the lower, top, upper, and middle bits in thedata after the scrambling (step S213). In other words, the top, upper,middle, and lower bits in the data after the scrambling are respectivelyreplaced by the upper, middle, lower, and top bits in the data beforethe scrambling.

In the case of mod((i+4),4)=2 (YES in step S214), the top, upper,middle, and lower bits corresponding to BL2, BL6, BL10, and BL14respectively change to the middle, lower, top, and upper bits in thedata after the scrambling (step S215). In other words, the top, upper,middle, and lower bits in the data after the scrambling are respectivelyreplaced by the middle, lower, top, and upper bits in the data beforethe scrambling.

In the case of mod((i+5),5)=3 (NO in step S214), the top, upper, middle,and lower bits corresponding to BL3, BL7, BL11, and BL15 respectivelychange to the upper, middle, lower, and top bits in the data after thescrambling (step S216). In other words, the top, upper, middle, andlower bits in the data after the scrambling are respectively replaced bythe lower, top, upper, and middle bits in the data before thescrambling.

Thus, the scrambled data is generated by exchanging the respective bitsof data of the top, upper, middle, and lower bits among the four pages.In the example described above, the data are exchanged for each bit.However, the data may be exchanged in units of columns, not for each bitas described above for the fifth embodiment. The scramble method is notparticularly limited to the rule shown in FIG. 36B, but may be anymethod as long as bits can be exchanged among a plurality of pages.

-   -   Write command sequences

Write command sequences of the present embodiments are substantially thesame as those of the fifth embodiment described with reference to FIG.27 , except that in the first to fifth sequences SQ1 to SQ5, the lowerpage, middle page, upper page, and top page of the scrambled data aretransmitted. In this example also, since the controller 200 scramblesthe data, the command “X1h” may not necessarily be issued.

8.3 Data Reading Operation

The method of reading data in the present embodiment is basically thesame as that shown in FIG. 20A relating to the fifth embodiment. Thepresent embodiment differs from the fifth embodiment in the followingrespects.

-   -   Read command Sequences

The read command sequences issued in step S25 are substantially the sameas those of the fifth embodiment described with reference to FIG. 21 ,except that the data is transmitted in the order of the lower page, themiddle page, the upper page, and the top page. Also in the presentembodiment, it is the controller 200 that decodes the read scrambleddata, whereas the NAND flash memory 100 performs the normal sequentialreading. Therefore, the command “Y1h” may be omitted. In the case ofusing the method of FIG. 20B, the following command sequence shown inFIG. 21 is issued in the step S25-2 to S25-5:

-   -   <Y1h><00h><ADD><30h>.

As a result, the page designated by the address ADD is read. Step S25-1is skipped.

-   -   Reading operation in NAND flash memory 100

In the present embodiment also, full sequential reading is performed instep S31. As a result, the lower bit, middle bit, upper bit, and top bitof the scrambled data are respectively held by the latch circuits XDL,ADL, BDL, and CDL of the sense amplifier 140.

FIG. 37 is a timing chart showing a change in potential of the selectedword line WL and data held in each of the latch circuits in the senseamplifier 140, when step S31 is performed. FIG. 37 corresponds to FIG.22A used in the explanation of the fifth embodiment.

As illustrated, the row decoder 120 sequentially applies the voltages V1to VF to the selected word line WL. As a result, the reading operations1R to FR are sequentially performed, and the following arithmeticoperations are performed.

-   -   Reading operation 1R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 2R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit BDL.

BDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 3R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 4R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA xnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation 5R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit CDL.

CDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 6R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA|XDL

-   -   Reading operation 7R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SA xnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation 8R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=SA xnor BDL

-   -   Reading operation 9R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SA xnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation AR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit CDL.

CDL=SA xnor CDL

-   -   Reading operation BR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA xnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation CR: Read result SA is ORed with the data held        by the latch circuit CDL.

CDL=SA|CDL

-   -   Reading operation DR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SA xnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation ER: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=˜SA|BDL

-   -   Reading operation FR: Read result SA is inverted and XNORed with        the data held by the latch circuit CDL.

CDL=˜SA xnor CDL

In the manner described above, the lower bit (L0/T1/U2/M3/L4 . . . M15)is established at the reading operation BR, and held by the latchcircuit XDL. The middle bit (M0/L1/T2/U3/M4 . . . U15) is established atthe reading operation DR, and held by the latch circuit ADL. The upperbit (U0/M1/L2/T3/U4 . . . T15) is established at the reading operationER, and held by the latch circuit BDL. The top bit (T0/U1/M2/L3/T4 . . .L15) is established at the reading operation FR, and held by the latchcircuit CDL.

8.4 Advantageous Effects According to Present Embodiment

As described above, the data scramble method of the fifth embodiment isapplicable to a case in which the memory cell transistor holds 4-bitdata, and produces similar advantageous effects.

Also, the pages (latch circuits) to be read may be designated in thecommand sequences in the reading time, as in the examples illustrated inFIG. 23A, FIG. 23B, and FIG. 23C concerning the fifth embodiment.

For example, in a case in which the controller 200 requests thescrambled upper page (U0/M1/L2/T3/U4/ . . . T15), the command sequenceillustrated in FIG. 23A can be used. In this case, the upper page isdesignated by issuing the command “03h” in place of the command “04h” inFIG. 23A. As a result, the scrambled upper page (U0/M1/L2/T3/U4 . . .T15) is held by the latch circuit XDL.

When the controller 200 requests the scrambled lower page(L0/T1/U2/M3/L4 . . . M15) and the scrambled upper page (U0/M1/L2/T3/U4. . . T15), the command sequence of FIG. 23B described above can beused. In this case, the lower page is designated by issuing the command“01h” in place of the command “02h” in FIG. 23B. As a result, thescrambled lower page (L0/T1/U2/M3/L4 . . . M15) is held by the latchcircuit XDL, and the scrambled upper page (U0/M1/L2/T3/U4 . . . T15) isheld by the latch circuit BDL. After reading the scrambled lower page,the controller 200 is able to read the scrambled upper page by issuingthe command “Z1h” twice.

Furthermore, when the controller 200 requests the scrambled top page(T0/U1/M2/L3/T4 . . . L15) and the scrambled upper page (U0/M1/L2/T3/U4. . . T15), the command sequence of FIG. 23C described above can beused. In this case, the top page is designated by issuing the command“04h” in place of the command “05h” in FIG. 23C. As a result, thescrambled top page (T0/U1/M2/L3/T4 . . . L15) is held by the latchcircuit XDL. The scrambled lower page (L0/T1/U2/M3/L4 . . . M15), thescrambled middle page (M0/L1/T2/U3/M4 . . . U15), and the scrambledupper page (U0/M1/L2/T3/U4 . . . T15) are respectively held by the latchcircuits ADL, BDL, and CDL. Therefore, after reading the scrambled toppage, the controller 200 is able to read the scrambled upper page byissuing the command “Z1h” three times.

As illustrated in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 for the fifth embodiment, thecommand sequences at the time of reading may directly designate the pageinstead of designating data to be read from the sense amplifier 140 forthe second and subsequent pages with the number of times of issuance ofthe command “Z1h”.

If the controller 200 reads only one page, for example, the scrambledupper page, the reading is performed in the same manner as describedabove with reference to FIG. 23A. That is, the command “03h” designatingthe upper page is issued following the command “Y1h”, and as a result,the scrambled upper page is held by the latch circuit XDL.

When the controller 200 requests the scrambled lower page(L0/T1/U2/M3/L4 . . . M15) and the scrambled upper page (U0/M1/L2/T3/U4. . . T15), the command sequence of FIG. 24 described above can be used.In this case, the command “01h” is issued in place of the command “02h”in FIG. 24 , so that the scrambled lower page is held by the latchcircuit XDL. Subsequently, the command “03h” is issued in place of thecommand “04h”, and thereafter the command Z1h” is issued, so that thescrambled upper page in the latch circuit BDL is transferred to thelatch circuit XDL.

When the controller 200 requests the scrambled top page and thescrambled upper page, the command sequence of FIG. 25 described abovecan be used. In this case, the command “04h” is issued in place of thecommand “05h” in FIG. 25 , so that the scrambled top page is held by thelatch circuit XDL. Subsequently, the command “03h” is issued in place ofthe command “04h”, and thereafter the command Z1h” is issued, so thatthe scrambled upper page in the latch circuit BDL is transferred to thelatch circuit XDL.

9. Ninth Embodiment

Next, a semiconductor memory device according to a ninth embodiment willbe described. The present embodiment relates to a data scramble methodthat differs from the eighth embodiment. In the following description,only the matters different from the eighth embodiment will be described.The mapping of the data in this embodiment is “3-4-4-4” mapping, whichis described above with reference to FIG. 35 relating to the eighthembodiment.

9.1 Data Writing Operation

The basic flow of the data writing operation is the same as that in theeighth embodiment. The present embodiment differs from the eighthembodiment in data scrambling method.

The scrambling method of this embodiment is (2+2) scrambling that uses apartial page scramble method. The (2+2) scrambling is a method ofrandomizing data by exchanging bits between two pages of four pagesassigned to one word line, and further exchanging bits between the othertwo pages. FIG. 38 corresponds to FIG. 36A used in the explanation ofthe eighth embodiment. The upper part of FIG. 38 represents data beforescrambling, and the lower part of FIG. 38 represents data afterscrambling. In the data after scrambling in FIG. 38 , for reference, thelower and upper bits before scrambling are represented with diagonallines.

As illustrated in FIG. 31 , the scrambling method of the presentembodiment is performed as follows:

-   -   The lower page and the middle page are scrambled, so that the        lower page and middle page of scrambled data are generated. At        this time, lower bits are replaced by middle bits at every other        bit, and middle bits are replaced by lower bits at every other        bit.    -   The upper page and the top page are scrambled, so that the upper        page and the top page of scrambled data are generated. At this        time, upper bits are replaced by top bits at every other bit,        and top bits are replaced by upper bits at every other bit.

As a result of the scrambling described above, the lower page (data PG0mentioned in FIG. 16 ), the middle page (data PG1), the upper page (dataPG2), and the top page (data PG3) are generated as follows:

-   -   PG0:<L0/M1/L2/M3/L4/M5/L6/M7/L8/M9/L10/M11/L12/M13/L14/M15>    -   PG1:<M0/L1/M2/L3/M4/L5/M6/L7/M8/L9/M10/L11/M12/L13/M14/L15>    -   PG2:<U0/T1/U2/T3/U4/T5/U6/T7/U8/T9/U10/T11/U12/T13/U14/T15>    -   PG3:<T0/U1/T2/U3/T4/U5/T6/U7/T8/U9/T10/U11/T12/U13/T14/U15>        In the (2+2) scrambling, the pages that are scrambled between 2        pages are not limited to those shown in FIG. 38 . For example,        the middle page and the upper page may be scrambled, and further        the lower page and the top page may be scrambled. Thus, the        pages to be scrambled are not particularly limited. Furthermore,        the data may be exchanged between pages in units of columns or        in any other units, not in units of bits, as described above in        connection with the fifth embodiment.

The write command sequences issued in step S24 are the same as thosedescribed for the eighth embodiment, except that the command “X2h” isissued as a prefix command. The command “X2h” in this embodimentdeclares to the NAND flash memory 100 that the (2+2) scrambling thatuses a partial page scramble method is performed. Then, the fullsequence program using data for the scrambled four pages represented inthe lower part of FIG. 38 is executed. In this embodiment, the issuanceof the command “X2h” may be omitted.

9.2 Data Reading Operation

Next, a method of reading the scrambled data will be described. Readcommand sequences issued by step S25 are substantially the same as thoseof the sixth embodiment described with reference to FIG. 28A and FIG.28C, while the meaning of the prefix command and data to be read aredifferent from those of the sixth embodiment.

For example, when the scrambled lower page (L0/M1/L2/ . . . M15) and thescrambled middle page (M0/L1/M2/ . . . L15) are to be read, thecontroller 200 issues a command sequence shown in FIG. 28A. However, theprefix command “Y2h” declares to the NAND flash memory 100 that the(2+2) scrambling that uses the partial page scramble method is used andthe scrambled lower page (L0/M1/L2/ . . . M15) and the scrambled middlepage (M0/L1/M2/ . . . L15) are designated. Subsequently, as in the sixthembodiment, the command “00h”, the address ADD and the command “30h” areissued. Then, the NAND flash memory 100 is set to the busy state, and inresponse to the command “Y2h”, performs the partial sequential readingto read the scrambled lower page and the scrambled middle page. As aresult, the scrambled lower page (L0/M1/L2/ . . . M15) is held by thelatch circuit XDL, and the scrambled middle page (M0/L1/M2/ . . . L15)is held by the latch circuit ADL. After reading the scrambled lowerpage, the controller 200 is able to read the scrambled middle page byissuing the command “Z1h”. Also in this embodiment, “Y1h” may beomitted.

On the other hand, when the scrambled upper page (U0/T1/U2/ . . . T15)and the scrambled top page (T0/U1/T2/ . . . U15) are to be read, thecontroller 200 issues a command sequence shown in FIG. 28C. However, thecommand “Y3h” is issued in place of the prefix command “Y4h”. Thecommand “Y3h” declares to the NAND flash memory 100 that the (2+2)scrambling that uses the partial page scramble method is used and thescrambled upper page (U0/T1/U2/ . . . T15) and the scrambled top page(T0/U1/T2/ . . . U15) are designated. Subsequently, as in the sixthembodiment, the command “00h”, the address ADD and the command “30h” areissued. Then, the NAND flash memory 100 is set to the busy state, and inresponse to the command “Y3h”, performs the partial sequential readingto read the scrambled upper page and the scrambled top page. As aresult, the scrambled upper page (U0/T1/U2/ . . . T15) is held by thelatch circuit XDL, and the scrambled top page (T0/U1/T2/ . . . U15) isheld by the latch circuit ADL. After reading the scrambled upper page,the controller 200 is able to read the scrambled top page by issuing thecommand “Z1h”. Also in this embodiment, “Y3h” may be omitted.

FIG. 39A is a timing chart of the case where the command sequence ofFIG. 28A described above is issued, showing a change in potential of theselected word line WL and data held in each of the latch circuits in thesense amplifier 140, when step S31 in FIG. 20A is performed.

As illustrated, the row decoder 120 sequentially applies the voltagesV1, V3, V4, V6, V7, V9, VB and VD to the selected word line WL. As aresult, the reading operations 1R 3R, 4R, 6R, 7R, 9R, BR, and DR aresequentially performed. In the following, arithmetic operations in therespective reading operations and data held in each of the latchcircuits in the sense amplifier 140 will be described.

-   -   Reading operation 1R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 3R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 4R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA xnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation 6R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA|XDL

-   -   Reading operation 7R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SA xnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation 9R: Read result SA is ORed with the data held        by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA|ADL

-   -   Reading operation BR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA xnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation DR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SA xnor ADL

As described above, the scrambled lower bit (L0/M1/L2/ . . . M15) isestablished by the reading operation BR and held by the latch circuitXDL, and the scrambled middle bit (M0/L1/M2/ . . . L15) is establishedby the reading operation DR and held by the latch circuit ADL.

FIG. 39B is a timing chart of the case where the command sequence ofFIG. 28B is issued, showing a change in potential of the selected wordline WL and data held in each of the latch circuits in the senseamplifier 140, when step S31 in FIG. 20A is performed.

As illustrated, the row decoder 120 sequentially applies the voltagesV2, V5, V8, VA, VC, VE, and VF to the selected word line WL. As aresult, the reading operations 2R, 5R, 8R, AR, CR, ER, and FR aresequentially performed. In the following, arithmetic operations in therespective reading operations and data held in each of the latchcircuits in the sense amplifier 140 will be described.

-   -   Reading operation 2R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 5R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 8R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA xnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation AR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SA xnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation CR: Read result SA is ORed with the data held        by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA|ADL

-   -   Reading operation ER: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA|XDL

-   -   Reading operation FR: Read result SA is inverted and XNORed with        the data held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA xnor ADL

As described above, the scrambled upper bit (U0/T1/U2/ . . . T15) isestablished by the reading operation ER and held by the latch circuitXDL, and the scrambled top bit (T0/U1/T2/ . . . U15) is established bythe reading operation FR and held by the latch circuit ADL.

9.3 Advantageous Effects of Present Embodiment

As described above, the partial page scramble method of the sixthembodiment is applicable to a case in which the memory cell transistorholds 4-bit data, and produces similar advantageous effects.

Also, the pages (latch circuits) to be read may be designated in thecommand sequences in the reading time, as in the examples illustrated inFIG. 30A and FIG. 30B concerning the sixth embodiment.

For example, in a case in which the controller 200 requests thescrambled upper page (U0/T1/U2/ . . . T15), the command sequenceillustrated in FIG. 30A can be used. In this case, the upper page isdesignated by issuing the command “03h” in place of the command “04h” inFIG. 30A. As a result, the scrambled upper page (U0/T1/U2/ . . . T15) isheld by the latch circuit XDL. The prefix command “Y3h” is issued inplace of “Y4h”.

When the controller 200 requests the scrambled lower page (L0/M1/L2/ . .. M15) and the scrambled middle page (M0/L1/M2/ . . . L15), the commandsequence of FIG. 30B described above can be used. In this case, thelower page is designated by issuing the command “01h” in FIG. 30B. As aresult, the scrambled lower page (L0/M1/L2/ . . . M15) is held by thelatch circuit ADL, and the scrambled middle page (M0/L1/M2/ . . . L15)is held by the latch circuit XDL. Therefore, after reading the scrambledlower page, the controller 200 is able to read the scrambled middle pageby issuing the command “Z1h” once.

10. Tenth Embodiment

Next, a semiconductor memory device according to a tenth embodiment willbe described. The present embodiment relates to a data scramble methodthat differs from the eighth and ninth embodiments. In the followingdescription, only the matters different from the eighth and ninthembodiments will be described. The mapping of the data in thisembodiment is “3-4-4-4” mapping, which is described above with referenceto FIG. 35 relating to the eighth embodiment.

10.1 Data Writing Operation

The basic flow of the data writing operation is the same as that of theeighth embodiment. The present embodiment differs from the eighthembodiment in data scrambling method.

The scrambling method of this embodiment is (1+3) scrambling that uses apartial page scramble method. The (1+3) scrambling is a method ofrandomizing data by exchanging bits among three pages of four pagesassigned to one word line WL, and not exchanging bits in the other page.FIG. 40 corresponds to FIG. 36A used in the explanation of the eighthembodiment. The upper part of FIG. 40 represents data before scrambling,and the lower part of FIG. 40 represents data after scrambling. In thedata after scrambling in FIG. 40 , for reference, the lower bits beforescrambling are represented with diagonal lines.

As illustrated in FIG. 40 , the scrambling method of the presentembodiment is performed as follows:

-   -   The lower page, the upper page, and the top page are scrambled,        so that the lower page, the upper page, and the top page of        scrambled data are generated. At this time, the lower bit, upper        bit, and top bit are replaced by the top bit, lower bit, and        upper bit, respectively, at the second bit, and further replaced        by the upper bit, top bit, and lower bit, respectively, at the        third bit. The same applies to the fourth and subsequent bits.    -   The middle page is not scrambled with another page, and bits in        the page are not replaced.

As a result of the scrambling described above, the lower page (data PG0mentioned in FIG. 16 ), the middle page (data PG1), the upper page (dataPG2), and the top page (data PG3) are generated as follows:

-   -   PG0:<L0/T1/U2/L3/T4/U5/L6/T7/U8/L9/T10/U11/L12/T13/U14/L15>    -   PG1:<M0/M1/M2/M3/M4/M5/M6/M7/M8/M9/M10/M11/M12/M13/M14/M15>    -   PG2:<U0/L1/T2/U3/L4/T5/U6/L7/T8/U9/L10/T11/U12/L13/T14/U15>    -   PG3:<T0/U1/L2/T3/U4/L5/T6/U7/L8/T9/U10/L11/T12/U13/L14/T15>        In the (1+3) scrambling, the three pages to be scrambled are not        limited to those shown in FIG. 40 , and the page not to be        scrambled is not limited to the middle page. For example, the        middle page, the upper page, and the top page may be scrambled,        while the lower page may not be scrambled. Furthermore, the data        may be exchanged between pages in units of columns or in any        other units, not in units of bits, as described above in        connection with the fifth embodiment. Also, in the following        description, the lower page, the middle page, the upper page,        and the top page in the scrambled data may be referred to as the        scrambled lower page, the scrambled middle page, the scrambled        upper page, and the scrambled top page.

The write command sequences issued in step S24 are the same as thosedescribed for the eighth embodiment, except that the command “X3h” isissued as a prefix command. The command “X3h” is a command to declare tothe NAND flash memory 100 that the (1+3) scrambling that uses thepartial page scramble method is used. Then, the full sequence programusing data for the scrambled four pages represented in the lower part ofFIG. 40 is executed. In this embodiment also, the issuance of thecommand “X3h” may be omitted.

10.2 Data Reading Operation

Next, a method of reading the scrambled data will be described. Readcommand sequences issued by step S25 are substantially the same as thoseof the sixth embodiment described with reference to FIG. 28B and FIG.28C, while the meaning of the prefix command and data to be read aredifferent from those of the sixth embodiment.

For example, when the scrambled middle page (M0/M1/M2/ . . . M15) is tobe read, the controller 200 issues a command sequence shown in FIG. 28B.However, the command “Y4h” is issued in place of the prefix command“Y3h”. The command “Y4h” declares to the NAND flash memory 100 that the(1+3) scrambling that uses the partial page scramble method is used andone page (in this example, the middle page) is designated. Subsequently,as in the sixth embodiment, the command “00h”, the address ADD and thecommand “30h” are issued. Then, the NAND flash memory 100 is set to thebusy state, and in response to the command “Y4h”, performs the partialsequential reading to read the scrambled middle page. As a result, thescrambled middle page (M0/M1/M2/ . . . M15) is held by the latch circuitXDL.

On the other hand, when the scrambled lower page (L0/T1/U2/L3/ . . .L15), the scrambled upper page (U0/L1/T2/U3/ . . . U15) and thescrambled top page (T0/U1/L2/T3/ . . . T15) are to be read, thecontroller 200 issues a command sequence shown in FIG. 28C. However, thecommand “Y5h” is issued in place of the prefix command “Y4h”. Thecommand “Y5h” declares to the NAND flash memory 100 that the (1+3)scrambling that uses the partial page scramble method is used and threepages (in this embodiment, the lower page (L0/T1/U2/L3/ . . . L15), theupper page (U0/L1/T2/U3/ . . . U15), and the top page (T0/U1/L2/T3/ . .. T15)) are designated. Subsequently, as in the sixth embodiment, thecommand “00h”, the address ADD and the command “30h” are issued. Then,the NAND flash memory 100 is set to the busy state, and in response tothe command “Y5h”, performs the partial sequential reading to read thescrambled lower page, the scrambled upper page, and the scrambled toppage. As a result, the scrambled lower page (L0/T1/U2/L3/ . . . L15) isheld by the latch circuit XDL, the scrambled upper page (U0/L1/T2/U3/ .. . U15) is held by the latch circuit ADL, and the scrambled top page(T0/U1/L2/T3/ . . . T15) is held by the latch circuit BDL. After readingthe scrambled lower page, the controller 200 is able to read thescrambled upper page by issuing the command “Z1h”, and to further readthe scrambled top page by issuing the command “Z1h”. Also in thisembodiment, the issuance of the commands “Y4h” and “Y5h” may be omitted.

FIG. 41A is a timing chart of the case where the command sequence ofFIG. 28B is issued, showing a change in potential of the selected wordline WL and data held in each of the latch circuits in the senseamplifier 140, when step S31 in FIG. 20A is performed.

As illustrated, the row decoder 120 sequentially applies the voltagesV3, V7, V9, and VD to the selected word line WL. As a result, thereading operations 3R, 7R, 9R, and DR are sequentially performed. In thefollowing, arithmetic operations in the respective reading operationsand data held in each of the latch circuits in the sense amplifier 140will be described.

-   -   Reading operation 3R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 7R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA xnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation 9R: Read result SA is ORed with the data held        by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA|XDL

-   -   Reading operation DR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA xnor XDL

As a result, the scrambled middle bit (M0/M1/M2/ . . . M15) establishedand held by the latch circuit XDL,

FIG. 41B is a timing chart of the case where the command sequence ofFIG. 28C is issued, showing a change in potential of the selected wordline WL and data held in each of the latch circuits in the senseamplifier 140, when step S31 in FIG. 20A is performed.

As illustrated, the row decoder 120 sequentially applies the voltagesV1, V2, V4, V5, V6, V8, VA, VB, VC, VE, and VF to the selected word lineWL. As a result, the reading operations 1R, 2R, 4R, 5R, 6R, 8R, AR, BR,CR, ER, and FR are sequentially performed. In the following, arithmeticoperations in the respective reading operations and data held in each ofthe latch circuits in the sense amplifier 140 will be described.

-   -   Reading operation 1R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 2R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit ADL.

BDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 4R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA xnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation 5R: Read result SA is inverted and held by the        latch circuit BDL.

CDL=˜SA

-   -   Reading operation 6R: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=˜SA|XDL

-   -   Reading operation 8R: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=SA xnor ADL

-   -   Reading operation AR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=SA xnor BDL

-   -   Reading operation BR: Read result SA is XNORed with the data        held by the latch circuit XDL.

XDL=SA xnor XDL

-   -   Reading operation CR: Read result SA is ORed with the data held        by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=˜SA|BDL

-   -   Reading operation ER: Read result SA is inverted and ORed with        the data held by the latch circuit ADL.

ADL=˜SA|ADL

-   -   Reading operation FR: Read result SA is inverted and XNORed with        the data held by the latch circuit BDL.

BDL=˜SA xnor BDL

In the manner described above, the scrambled lower bit (L0/T1/U2/L3/ . .. L15) is established at the reading operation BR, and held by the latchcircuit XDL. The scrambled upper bit (U0/L1/T2/U3/ . . . U15) isestablished at the reading operation ER, and held by the latch circuitADL. The scrambled top bit (T0/U1/L2/T3/ . . . T15) is established atthe reading operation FR, and held by the latch circuit BDL.

10.3 Advantageous Effects According to Present Embodiment

The method of the present embodiment described above, for example, maybe used as the data scramble method.

Also, the pages (latch circuits) to be read may be designated in thecommand sequences in the reading time, as in the examples illustrated inFIG. 30A and FIG. 30B concerning the sixth embodiment.

For example, in a case in which the controller 200 requests thescrambled upper page (U0/L1/T2/U3/ . . . U15), the command sequenceillustrated in FIG. 30A can be used. In this case, in FIG. 30A, threepages of the (1+3) pages are selected by issuing the prefix command“Y5h”, and the upper page is designated by issuing the command “03h”. Asa result, the scrambled upper page (U0/L1/T2/U3/ . . . U15) is held bythe latch circuit XDL.

When the controller 200 requests the scrambled lower page (L0/T1/U2/L3/. . . L15) and the scrambled upper page (U0/L1/T2/U3/ . . . U15), thecommand sequence of FIG. 30B described above can be used. In this case,in FIG. 30B, three pages of the (1+3) pages are selected by issuing theprefix command “Y5h”, and the lower page is designated by issuing thecommand “01h”. As a result, the scrambled lower page (L0/T1/U2/L3/ . . .L15) is held by the latch circuit XDL, and the scrambled upper page(U0/L1/T2/U3/ . . . U15) is held by the latch circuit ADL. Therefore,after reading the scrambled lower page, the controller 200 is able toread the scrambled upper page by issuing the command “Z1h” once.

11. Eleventh Embodiment

Next, a semiconductor memory device according to an eleventh embodimentwill be described. The present embodiment relates to a method ofscrambling data not only between pages but also between memory chips ina memory system including a plurality of memory chips. In the followingdescription, only the matters different from the first to tenthembodiments will be described.

11.1 Configuration of Memory System

FIG. 42 is a block diagram of a memory system 1 according to the presentembodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 42 , the memory system 1 of theembodiment includes a plurality of NAND flash memories 100 (in theexample of FIG. 42 , four NAND flash memories 100-0 to 100-3) in placeof the NAND flash memory 100 in the configuration of the firstembodiment shown in FIG. 1 . Those NAND flash memories 100 are formed ondifferent semiconductor chips, and may be referred to as memory chips CP(CP0 to CP3, respectively). A chip enable signal CEn and a ready/busysignal REn are prepared for each of the memory chips CP. On the otherhand, a signal I/O is transferred between a controller 200 and thememory chips CP0 to CP3 via a common signal line. The memory chips CPcan operate in parallel; for example, a data writing operation and adata reading operation can be performed at the same time.

In the embodiment, as described below, memory cell transistors of theNAND flash memories 100-1 to 100-3 can hold 4-bit data as in the eighthto tenth embodiments.

11.2 Data Writing Operation

The basic flow of the data writing operation is substantially the sameas that of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 15 described above. The scrambleprocessing in step S23 of FIG. 15 is the same as that in the eighth totenth embodiments. The present embodiment differs from the fifth totenth embodiments in that the data of the four pages generated byscrambling the bits of the pages in step S24 of FIG. 15 are transferredto memory chips CP different from each other. This process is shown inFIG. 43 . FIG. 43 is a conceptual diagram roughly illustrating a flow ofprocessing of the controller explained in FIG. 15 , and the flow of thefirst embodiment described with reference to FIG. 16 is applied to thepresent embodiment.

In this example, one memory cell transistor holds 4-bit data. Forsimplicity of explanation, FIG. 43 shows a case in which the controller200 receives data corresponding to 16 pages from the host apparatus 300.As shown in FIG. 43 , the controller 200 divides the data received fromthe host apparatus 300 into data units DU (DU0 to DU16) as well as inthe fifth embodiment described with reference to FIG. 16 . The ECCcircuit 260 generates a parity for each of the data units DU, andapplies the parity to the data unit DU. Then, the processor 230scrambles the data by any of the methods of the eighth to tenthembodiments described above. In FIG. 43 , for example, it is assumedthat the data units DU0 to DU3 respectively correspond to the lower,middle, upper, and top pages of the word line WL0 of the NAND flashmemory 100-0. In this case, the processor 230 scrambles the data amongdata units DU0 to DU3. Furthermore, it is assumed that data units DU4 toDU7 respectively correspond to the lower, middle, upper, and top pagesof the word line WL1 of the NAND flash memory 100-0. In this case, theprocessor scrambles the data among the data units DU4 to DU7. The sameapplies to the data units DU8 to DU11, and the data units DU12 to DU15.

As a result, the data units DU0 to DU3 and their parities are scrambledto generate data PG0 to PG3. Furthermore, the data units DU4 to DU7 andtheir parities are scrambled to generate data PG4 to PG7. The sameapplies to the data units PG8 to PG11, and the data units PG12 to PG15.

The data PG0, PG4, PG8, and PG12 is transmitted to the memory chip CP0,and respectively written in the lower, middle, upper, and top pages ofthe word line WL0. The data PG1, PG5, PG9 and PG13 are transmitted tothe memory chip CP1, and respectively written in the middle, upper, top,and lower pages of the word line WL0. The data PG2, PG6, PG10, and PG14are transmitted to the memory chip CP2, and respectively written in theupper, top, lower, and middle pages of the word line WL0. The data PG3,PG7, PG11, and PG15 are transmitted to the memory chip CP3, andrespectively written in the top, lower, middle, and upper pages of theword line WL0.

FIG. 44 shows the relationship between each page (top, upper, middle, orlower page) of the word line WL and data PG to be written in the wordline WL of each memory chip CP. As shown in FIG. 44 , in the word lineWLi of the NAND flash memory 100-0 (i is an integer, in this embodiment,i=0), the data PG0, PG4, PG8, and PG12 are respectively written in thelower, middle, upper, and top pages. In the word line WLi of the NANDflash memory 100-1, the data PG13, PG1, PG5, and PG9 are respectivelywritten in the lower, middle, upper, and top pages. In the word line WLiof the NAND flash memory 100-2, the data PG10, PG14, PG2, and PG6 arerespectively written in the lower, middle, upper, and top pages. In theword line WLi of the NAND flash memory 100-3, the data PG7, PG11, PG15,and PG3 are respectively written in the lower, middle, upper, and toppages.

In the word line WL(i+1) of the NAND flash memory 100-0, the data PG16,PG20, PG24 and PG28 are respectively written in the lower, middle,upper, and top pages. In the word line WL(i+1) of the NAND flash memory100-1, the data PG29, PG17, PG21, and PG25 are respectively written inthe lower, middle, upper, and top pages. In the word line WL(i+1) of theNAND flash memory 100-2, the data PG26, PG30, PG18, and PG22 arerespectively written in the lower, middle, upper, and top pages. In theword line WL(i+1) of the NAND flash memory 100-3, the data PG23, PG27,PG31 and PG19 are respectively written in the lower, middle, upper, andtop pages. The same applies to the data PG32 and the subsequent data.

Write command sequences will be described with reference to FIG. 45A,FIG. 45B, FIG. 45C, and FIG. 45D. FIG. 45A, FIG. 45B, FIG. 45C, and FIG.45D are timing charts representing signals I/O to be transmitted to thememory chips CP0 to CP3, and also representing whether each of the chipsis ready or busy. FIG. 45A, FIG. 45B, FIG. 45C, and FIG. 45D aretemporally continuous, but divided into the four separate charts due tolimitations of space.

As shown in FIG. 45A, the controller 200 transfers write data to thememory chip CP0. The command sequences are the same as those describedwith reference to FIG. 19 . First, the data PG0 is transmitted alongwith the command “01h” designating the lower page. Next, the data PG4 istransmitted along with the command “02h” designating the middle page.Next, the data PG8 is transmitted along with the command “03h”designating the upper page. Finally, the data PG12 is transmitted alongwith the command “04h” designating the top page. As a result of issuanceof the command “10h”, the NAND flash memory 100-0 starts the fullsequence program using the data PG0, PG4, PG8, and PG12, and changesfrom the ready state to the busy state.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 45B, the controller 200 transfers writedata to the memory chip CP1. First, the data PG13 is transmitted alongwith the command “01h”. Next, the data PG1 is transmitted along with thecommand “02h”. Next, the data PG5 is transmitted along with the command“03h”. Finally, the data PG9 is transmitted along with the command“04h”. As a result of issuance of the command “10h”, the NAND flashmemory 100-1 starts the full sequence program using the data PG13, PG1,PG5, and PG9, and changes from the ready state to the busy state.

Then, as shown in FIG. 45C, the controller 200 transfers write data tothe memory chip CP2. First, the data PG10 is transmitted along with thecommand “01h”. Next, the data PG14 is transmitted along with the command“02h”. Next, the data PG2 is transmitted along with the command “03h”.Finally, the data PG6 is transmitted along with the command “04h”. As aresult of issuance of the command “10h”, the NAND flash memory 100-2starts the full sequence program using the page data PG10, PG14, PG2,and PG6, and changes from the ready state to the busy state.

Then, as shown in FIG. 45D, the controller 200 transfers write data tothe memory chip CP3. First, the data PG7 is transmitted along with thecommand “01h”. Next, the data PG11 is transmitted along with the command“02h”. Next, the data PG15 is transmitted along with the command “03h”.Finally, the data PG3 is transmitted along with the command “04h”. As aresult of issuance of the command “10h”, the NAND flash memory 100-3starts the full sequence program using the page data PG7, PG11, PG15,and PG3, and changes from the ready state to the busy state.

11.3 Data Reading Operation

The basic flow of the data writing operation is substantially the sameas that of the fifth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 20A, but is deferentfrom the fifth embodiment in the following respects. In the presentembodiment, the data PG of the four pages constituting the data unit DUto be read are respectively written in the different memory chips CP0 toCP3. Therefore, the controller 200 issues a read command to readnecessary data PG for each of the memory chips CP. In response to theread command, each of the NAND flash memories 100 reads necessary dataPG through the page-by-page reading. Of course, the full sequentialreading may be performed to hold only necessary data by a latch circuitof the sense amplifier 140. However, in the present embodiment, as dataof only one page needs to be read by each NAND flash memory 100, thepage-by-page reading can be used.

The data PG of the four pages, which have been read as described above,were generated by scrambling the four data units DU and the paritiesthereof. Therefore, in the controller 200, for example, the processor230 or the ECC circuit 260 performs reverse bit handling of thescrambling process, thereby decoding the data PG of the four pages.Then, steps S27 and S28 are performed, and an error-corrected data unitis transmitted to the host apparatus 300.

FIG. 46A is a timing chart representing signals I/O to be transmitted tothe memory chips CP0 to CP3, and also representing whether each of thechips is ready or busy. The timing chart shows read command sequenceswhen reading the data unit DU0 in the case shown in FIG. 43 and FIG. 44as an example.

As illustrated, the controller 200 first issues a read command to thememory chip CP0. In this command sequence, first, the lower page isdesignated by the command “01h”. Then, the NAND flash memory 100-0 readsonly the lower page. Specifically, as described with reference to FIG.35 , the reading operations 1R, 4R, 6R, and BR are performed. As aresult, the data PG0 is read by the latch circuit XDL.

Subsequently, the controller 200 issues a read command to the memorychip CP1. In this command sequence, the middle page is designated by thecommand “02h”. Then, the NAND flash memory 100-1 reads only the middlepage. Specifically, the reading operations 3R, 7R, 9R, and DR areperformed. As a result, the data PG1 is read by the latch circuit XDL.

Furthermore, the controller 200 issues a read command to the memory chipCP2. In this command sequence, the upper page is designated by thecommand “03h”. Then, the NAND flash memory 100-2 reads only the upperpage. Specifically, the reading operations 2R, 8R, and ER are performed.As a result, the data PG2 is read by the latch circuit XDL.

Subsequently, the controller 200 issues a read command to the memorychip CP3. In this command sequence, the top page is designated by thecommand “04h”. Then, the NAND flash memory 100-3 reads only the toppage. Specifically, the reading operations 5R, AR, CR, and FR areperformed. As a result, the data PG3 is read by the latch circuit XDL.Subsequently, by toggling the read enable signal REn, the controller 200reads the data PG0 to PG3 respectively from the NAND flash memories100-0 to 100-3.

Then, for example, as shown in FIG. 46B, the processor 230 or the ECCcircuit 260 of the controller 200 takes a necessary bit (or column) fromthe data PG0 to PG3, and generates the data unit DU0 and its parity. Forexample, if the full page scramble method shown in FIG. 36A is employed,The controller 200 takes the bits L0, L4, L8, and L12 from the data PG0,bits L1, L5, L9, and L13 from the data PG1, bits L2, L6, L10, and L14from the data PG3, and bits L3, L7, L11, and L15 from the data PG4. As aresult, the data unit DU0 including the bits L0 to L15 and theirparities is generated.

Then, the ECC circuit 260 detects and corrects an error using theparity, and the error-corrected data unit DU0 is transmitted to the hostapparatus 300.

11.4 Advantageous Effects According to Present Embodiment

As described above, in the memory system including a plurality of memorychips CP, data may be scrambled among not only pages but also memorychips. As a result, data is randomized among memory chips, and “0” dataor “1” data is prevented from being concentrated in a specific memorychip.

12. Twelfth Embodiment

Next, a semiconductor memory device according to a twelfth embodimentwill be described. In this embodiment, one memory cell transistor MTholds 5-bit data, unlike in the eleventh embodiment. In the followingdescription, only the matters different from the first to eleventhembodiments will be described.

12.1 Configuration of Memory System

The memory system 1 of the embodiment includes five NAND flash memories100 (100-0 to 100-4) in place of the NAND flash memories in theconfiguration of the eleventh embodiment shown in FIG. 42 . Those NANDflash memories 100 may be referred to as memory chips CP (CP0 to CP4,respectively). A chip enable signal CEn and a ready/busy signal REn areprepared for each of the memory chips CP. On the other hand, a signalI/O is transferred between a controller 200 and the memory chips CP0 toCP4 via a common signal line. The memory chips CP can operate inparallel; for example, a data writing operation and a data readingoperation can be performed at the same time.

In the embodiment, as described below, memory cell transistors of theNAND flash memories 100-0 to 100-4 can hold 5-bit data as in the firstto seventh embodiments.

12.2 Data Writing Operation

FIG. 47 is a conceptual diagram roughly illustrating a flow ofprocessing of the controller explained in FIG. 15 , and corresponds toFIG. 43 used in the explanation of the sixth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 47 , the controller 200 divides the data received fromthe host apparatus 300 into data units DU (DU0 to DU24). The ECC circuit260 generates a parity for each of the data units DU, and applies theparity to the data unit DU. Then, the processor 230 scrambles the databy any of the methods of the fifth to seventh embodiments describedabove. In FIG. 47 , for example, it is assumed that the data units DU0to DU4 respectively correspond to the bottom, lower, middle, upper, andtop pages of the word line WL0 of the NAND flash memory 100-0. In thiscase, the processor 230 or the ECC circuit 260 scrambles the data amongdata units DU0 to DU4. As a result, the data units DU0 to DU4 and theirparities are scrambled, and data PG0 to PG4 are generated. Furthermore,the data units DU5 to DU9 and their parities are scrambled, and data PG5to PG9 are generated. Similar operations are performed subsequently.

The data PG0, PG5, PG10, PG15, and PG20 are transmitted to the memorychip CP0, and respectively written in the bottom, lower, middle, upper,and top pages of the word line WL0. The data PG1, PG6, PG11, PG16, andPG21 are transmitted to the memory chip CP1, and respectively written inthe lower, middle, upper, top, and bottom pages of the word line WL0.FIG. 48 shows the relationship between each page (top, upper, middle,lower or bottom page) of the word line WL and data PG to be written inthe word line WL of each memory chip CP.

In the word line WLi of the NAND flash memory 100-0, the data PG0, PG5,PG10, PG15, and PG20 is written in the bottom, lower, middle, upper, andtop pages. In the word line WLi of the NAND flash memory 100-1, the dataPG21, PG1, PG6, PG11, and PG16 is written in the bottom, lower, middle,upper, and top pages. In the word line WLi of the NAND flash memory100-2, the data PG17, PG22, PG2, PG7, and PG17 is written in the bottom,lower, middle, upper, and top pages. In the word line WLi of the NANDflash memory 100-3, the data PG13, PG18, PG23, PG3, and PG8 is writtenin the bottom, lower, middle, upper, and top pages. In the word line WLiof the NAND flash memory 100-4, the data PG9, PG14, PG19, PG24 and PG4is written in the bottom, lower, middle, upper, and top pages.

In the word line WL(i+1) of the NAND flash memory 100-0, the data PG25,PG30, PG35, PG40 and PG45 is written in the bottom, lower, middle,upper, and top pages. In the word line WL(i+1) of the NAND flash memory100-1, the data PG46, PG26, PG31, PG36, and PG41 is written in thebottom, lower, middle, upper, and top pages. In the word line WL(i+1) ofthe NAND flash memory 100-2, the data PG42, PG47, PG27, PG32, and PG37is written in the bottom, lower, middle, upper, and top pages. In theword line WL(i+1) of the NAND flash memory 100-3, the data PG38, PG43,PG48, PG28, and PG33 is written in the bottom, lower, middle, upper, andtop pages. In the word line WL(i+1) of the NAND flash memory 100-4, thedata PG34, PG39, PG44, PG49, and PG29 is written in the bottom, lower,middle, upper, and top pages.

Regarding the write command sequences, it is necessary only that a writecommand be additionally issued for the memory chip CP4 in FIG. 45A toFIG. 45D used to explain the eleventh embodiment.

12.3 Data Reading Operation

The basic flow of the data reading operation is the same as that of theeleventh embodiment. For example, to read the data unit DU0, thecontroller 200 first issues a read command to the memory chip CP0. Inthis command sequence, first, the bottom page is designated by thecommand “01h”. Then, the NAND flash memory 100-0 reads only the bottompage. Specifically, if the data mapping described with reference to FIG.6 is used, the reading operations 1R, 3R, BR, DR and 14R are performed.As a result, the data PG0 is read by the latch circuit XDL.

Subsequently, the controller 200 issues a read command to the memorychip CP1. In this command sequence, the lower page is designated by thecommand “02h”. Then, the NAND flash memory 100-1 reads only the lowerpage. Specifically, the reading operations 4R, 6R, 8R, AR, FR, 13R, and18R are performed. As a result, the data PG1 is read by the latchcircuit XDL.

Subsequently, the controller 200 issues a read command to the memorychip CP2. In this command sequence, the middle page is designated by thecommand “03h”. Then, the NAND flash memory 100-2 reads only the middlepage. Specifically, the reading operations 2R, CR, 12R, 17R, 1AR, 1CR,and 1ER are performed. As a result, the data PG2 is read by the latchcircuit XDL.

Subsequently, the controller 200 issues a read command to the memorychip CP3. In this command sequence, the upper page is designated by thecommand “04h”. Then, the NAND flash memory 100-3 reads only the upperpage. Specifically, the reading operations 5R, CR, 12R, 17R, 1AR, 1CR,and 1ER are performed. As a result, the data PG3 is read by the latchcircuit XDL.

Subsequently, the controller 200 issues a read command to the memorychip CP4. In this command sequence, the top page is designated by thecommand “05h”. Then, the NAND flash memory 100-4 reads only the toppage. Specifically, the reading operations 7R, 11R, 16R, 1BR, and 1FRare performed. As a result, the data PG4 is read by the latch circuitXDL.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 46B, the data unit DU0 and its parity aregenerated based on the data PG0 to PG4. Then, the ECC circuit 260detects and corrects an error using the parity, and the error-correcteddata unit DU0 is transmitted to the host apparatus 300.

12.4 Advantageous Effects According to Present Embodiment

As described above, the eleventh embodiment is applicable to a case inwhich the memory cell transistor MT holds 5-bit data.

In the embodiment described above as an example, each memory celltransistor MT holds 5-bit data and five memory chips CP are prepared.Therefore, the data of the five pages obtained by scrambling the fivedata units DU is written in the different memory chips CP. However, ifthe number of the memory chips CP is less than the number of bits thatcan be held by the memory cell transistor MT, some of the data for thepages obtained by the scrambling is written in the same memory chip CP.The same applies to the eleventh embodiment in which the memory celltransistor MT holds 4-bit data.

FIG. 49 corresponds to FIG. 47 of the embodiment, and shows a case inwhich the memory cell transistor MT holds 5-bit data while the memorysystem 1 includes only four memory chips CP. In the case of FIG. 49 , ofthe data PG0 to PG4 obtained by scrambling the data units DU0 to DU4,the data PG0 and PG4 are written in the same memory chip CP0. The dataPG5 and PG9 are also written in the same memory chip CP0. FIG. 50 is atable showing this state, and corresponds to FIG. 48 used in theexplanation of the above embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 50 , of the data for the five pages obtained byscrambling the five data units DU, the data that cannot be written inthe word line WLi is written in the word lines WL(i+1) of the chips CP0to CP3. Specifically, of the data PG0 to PG4, the data PG0 to PG3 iswritten in the bottom, lower, middle, and upper pages of the word linesWL0 of the chips CP0 to CP3, and the data PG4 is written in the bottompage of the word line WL(i+1) of the chip CP0. Alternatively, the dataPG4 may be written in the top page of the word line WLi of the chip CP0.

Furthermore, of the data PG5 to PG9, the data PG5 to PG8 is written inthe lower, middle, upper, and top pages of the word lines WL0 of thechips CP0 to CP3, and the data PG9 is written in the lower page of theword line WL(i+1) of the chip CP0. Furthermore, of the data PG10 toPG14, the data PG10 to PG13 is written in the middle, upper, top, andbottom pages of the word lines WL0 of the chips CP0 to CP3, and the dataPG14 is written in the middle page of the word line WL(i+1) of the chipCP0. Subsequently, similar operations are performed.

13. Modifications, Etc

As described above, the semiconductor memory device of the embodimentincludes a memory cell configured to hold 5-bit data in accordance witha threshold, a word line connected to the memory cell, and a row decoderconfigured to apply first to 31st voltages to the word line. the firstbit (“bottom” in FIG. 3 ) of the 5-bit data is established by readingoperations (1R, 3R, 5R, ER, 10R, and 15R in FIG. 3 ) using first tosixth voltages (V1, V3, V5, VE, V10, and V15 in FIG. 3 ). The second bit(“lower” in FIG. 3 ), which is different from the first bit, isestablished by reading operations (2R, AR, DR, 11R, 17R, and 1BR in FIG.3 ) using seventh to twelfth voltages (V2, VA, VD, V11, V17, and V1B inFIG. 3 ). The third bit (“middle” in FIG. 3 ), which is different fromthe first and second bits, is established by reading operations (4R, 8R,FR, 18R, 1AR, and 1DR in FIG. 3 ) using thirteenth to eighteenthvoltages (V4, V8, VF, V18, V1A, and V1D in FIG. 3 ). The fourth bit(“upper” in FIG. 3 ), which is different from the first to third bits,is established by reading operations (6R, CR, 12R, 14R, 16R, 1CR, and1ER in FIG. 3 ) using 19th to 25th voltages (V6, VC, V12, V14, V16, V1C,and V1E in FIG. 3 ). The fifth bit (“top” in FIG. 3 ), which isdifferent from the first to fourth bits, is established by readingoperations (7R, 9R, BR, 13R, 19R, and 1FR in FIG. 3 ) using 26th to 31stvoltages (V7, V9, VB, V13, V19, and V1F in FIG. 3 ). The first to 31stvoltages are different from one another.

Alternatively, the first bit (“bottom” in FIG. 6 ) of the 5-bit data isestablished by reading operations (1R, 3R, BR, DR, and 14R in FIG. 6 )using first to fifth voltages (V1, V3, VB, VD, and V14 in FIG. 6 ). Thesecond bit (“lower” in FIG. 6 ), which is different from the first bit,is established by reading operations (4R, 6R, 8R, AR, FR, 13R, and 18Rin FIG. 6 ) using sixth to twelfth voltages (V4, V6, V8, VA, VF, V13,and V18 in FIG. 6 ). The third bit (“middle” in FIG. 6 ), which isdifferent from the first and second bits, is established by readingoperations (2R, 9R, ER, 10R, 15R, 19R, and 1DR in FIG. 6 ) usingthirteenth to nineteenth voltages (V2, V9, VE, V10, V15, V19, and V1D inFIG. 6 ). The fourth bit (“upper” in FIG. 6 ), which is different fromthe first to third bits, is established by reading operations (5R, CR,12R, 17R, 1AR, 1CR, and 1ER in FIG. 6 ) using 20th to 26th voltages (V5,VC, V12, V17, V1A, V1C, and V1E in FIG. 6 ). The fifth bit (“top” inFIG. 6 ), which is different from the first to fourth bits, isestablished by reading operations (7R, 11R, 16R, 1BR, and 1FR in FIG. 6) using 27th to 31st voltages (V7, V11, V16, V1B, and V1F in FIG. 6 ).

Further, the first bit (“bottom” in FIG. 9 ) of the 5-bit data isestablished by reading operations (2R, 7R, 9R, BR, DR, and 16R in FIG. 9) using first to sixth voltages (V2, V7, V9, VB, VD, and V16 in FIG. 9). The second bit (“lower” in FIG. 9 ), which is different from thefirst bit, is established by reading operations (3R, 8R, 10R, 12R, 14R,17R, 1AR in FIG. 9 ) using seventh to thirteenth voltages (V3, V8, V10,V12, V14, V17, and VIA in FIG. 9 ). The third bit (“middle” in FIG. 9 ),which is different from the first and second bits, is established byreading operations (4R, 6R, AR, FR, 13R, 19R, and 1DR in FIG. 9 ) usingfourteenth to 20th voltages (V4, V6, VA, VF, V13, V19, and V1D in FIG. 9). The fourth bit (“upper” in FIG. 9 ), which is different from thefirst to third bits, is established by reading operations (5R, CR, 11R,15R, 18R, 1BR, and 1ER in FIG. 9 ) using 21st to 27th voltages (V5, VC,V11, V15, V18, V1B, and V1E in FIG. 9 ). The fifth bit (“top” in FIG. 9), which is different from the first to fourth bits, is established byreading operations (1R, ER, 1CR, and 1FR in FIG. 9 ) using 28th to 31stvoltages (V1, VE, V1C, and V1F in FIG. 9 ).

According to the configuration described above, in the NAND flash memoryconfigured to hold 5-bit data (32-level data), the rate of occurrence ofan error during reading to establish each bit can be reduced, and thereliability of reading operations can be improved.

The above-described embodiments have various modifications. For example,as in the case with second and fourth embodiments, the mirror pattern ofthe mapping described in connection with the fifth to thirteenthembodiments may be used. Furthermore, a concept similar to the conceptin the above-described embodiments is applicable to a NAND flash memorythat can hold 5-bit data (32-level data) or more. Additionally, theconcept is applicable not only to NAND flash memories but also tosemiconductor memories in general in which memory cells can holdmulti-bit data.

In addition, the relationship of the “0” to “1F” data that may beassumed by the memory cell transistors MT with the bottom bit the lowerbit, the middle bit, the upper bit, and the top bit is not limited tothe relationship in the above-described embodiments. The relations maybe the 6-6-6-6-7 mapping, the 5-5-7-7-7 mapping, and the 4-6-7-7-7mapping, and in this case, the number of bits changing between adjacentthreshold levels may be 1 bit. For example, in the 5-5-7-7-7 mapping,the mapping is not limited to the case shown in FIG. 6 , but may be thecase shown in FIG. 51 . In FIG. 51 , the relationship of the “0” to “1F”states that may be assumed by the memory cell transistors with thebottom bit, the lower bit, the middle bit, the upper bit, and the topbit are as follows.

-   -   “0” state: “11111” (represented in the order of        “top/upper/middle/lower/bottom”)    -   “1” state: “11110”    -   “2” state: “11100”    -   “3” state: “11101”    -   “4” state: “11001”    -   “5” state: “11000”    -   “6” state: “11010”    -   “7” state: “11011”    -   “8” state: “10011”    -   “9” state: “00011”    -   “A” state: “01011”    -   “B” state: “01111”    -   “C” state: “00111”    -   “D” state: “10111”    -   “E” state: “10101”    -   “F” state: “00101”    -   “10” state: “01101”    -   “11” state: “01001”    -   “12” state: “00001”    -   “13” state: “10001”    -   “14” state: “10000”    -   “15” state: “10100”    -   “16” state: “00100”    -   “17” state: “01100”    -   “18” state: “01000”    -   “19” state: “01010”    -   “1A” state: “01110”    -   “1B” state: “00110”    -   “1C” state: “10110”    -   “1D” state: “10010”    -   “1E” state: “00010”    -   “1F” state: “00000”        In the mapping of this modification, the bottom page is read by        the reading operations 1R, 3R, 5R, 7R, and 14R. The lower page        is read by the reading operations 2R, 6R, ER, 19R and 1FR. The        middle page is read by the reading operations 4R, BR, 11R, 15R,        18R, 1AR, and 1DR. The upper page is read by the reading        operations 8R, AR, CR, 10R, 12R, 17R, and 1BR. The top page is        read by the reading operations 9R, DR, FR, 13R, 16R, 1CR and        1ER.

Among the various mappings described above, the mappings the specificexamples of which have been described above in the embodiments aredesirably used when improvement of the reliability of reading and/or theimprovement of latency is noted.

The same applies to the eighth embodiment in which the memory celltransistor MT holds 4-bit data. The mapping in the case of holding 4-bitdata by a memory cell transistor is described in U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/190,546 filed Jul. 9, 2015 entitled “SEMICONDUCTORMEMORY DEVICE” and U.S. Non-provisional patent application Ser. No.14/963,482 filed Dec. 9, 2015 based on the provisional application.These patent applications are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

In the fifth to twelfth embodiments described above, for example, thescrambling process among pages is performed by the controller 200.However, the scrambling process may be performed by the NAND flashmemory 100. The operations of the memory system 1 in this case are shownin the flowchart of FIG. 52 . As shown in FIG. 52 , the controller 200issues a write command for page data (step S120) without scrambling thedata unlike in the fifth embodiment described with reference to FIG. 15. The issued command sequences are, for example, the same as those shownin FIG. 19 ; the prefix command instructs scrambling of data to the NANDflash memory 100.

In the NAND flash memory 100, for example, the sense amplifier 140scrambles data among pages (step S130). When the scrambled data for fivepages is obtained, the full sequence program is executed (step S30).

An example of the scrambling method in step S130 will be described withreference to FIG. 53A, FIG. 53B, and FIG. 53C. FIG. 53A, FIG. 53B, andFIG. 53C are schematic diagrams showing data held by the latch circuitsof the sense amplifier unit SAU corresponding to each of the bit linesBL0 to BL9.

As illustrated, first, bottom page data is transmitted from thecontroller 200 by step S120, and the data (B0/B1/B2/ . . . B9) are firstheld by the latch circuit XDL. If the data are not scrambled, all bitsof the bottom page data are transferred to the latch circuit ADL. In thepresent modification, as shown in FIG. 53A, the bits B1 and B6 aretransferred to the latch circuit BDL, the bits B2 and B7 are transferredto the latch circuit CDL, the bits B3 and B8 are transferred to thelatch circuit DDL, and the bits B4 and B9 are transferred to the latchcircuit EDL.

Subsequently, lower page data is transmitted from the controller 200,and the data (L0/L1/L2/ . . . L9) is first held by the latch circuitXDL. If the data is not scrambled, all bits of the lower page data aretransferred to the latch circuit BDL. In the present modification, asshown in FIG. 53B, the bits L1 and L6 are transferred to the latchcircuit CDL, the bits L2 and L7 are transferred to the latch circuitDDL, and the bits L3 and L8 are transferred to the latch circuit EDL,and the bits L4 and L9 are transferred to the latch circuit ADL.

The same applies to the middle page data and the upper page data, andfinally, the top page data is held by the latch circuit XDL. Then, asshown in FIG. 53C, the bits T1 and T6 are transferred to the latchcircuit ADL, the bits T2 and T7 are transferred to the latch circuitBDL, the bits T3 and T8 are transferred to the latch circuit CDL, andthe bits T4 and T9 are transferred to the latch circuit DDL.

As a result, the scrambled data in the lower part of FIG. 17 is held bythe latch circuits ADL, BDL, CDL, DDL, and EDL. Of course, the bottompage data, the lower page data, the middle page data, the upper pagedata, and the top page data received from the controller 200 may betemporarily transferred to the latch circuits ADL, BDD, CDL, DDL, andEDL. Thereafter, the data may be exchanged. The scrambling method may beselected appropriately.

In the fifth to twelfth embodiments, decoding of the scrambled data maybe performed by the NAND flash memory 100. In this case, the memorysystem 1 performs operations as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 54 . Asillustrated, the controller 200 issues an ordinary data read command(step S121), instead of scrambled data unlike in the fifth embodimentdescribed with reference to FIG. 20A. The issued command sequences are,for example, the same as those shown in FIG. 21 ; the prefix (Y1 h)command instructs decoding of scrambled data to the NAND flash memory100.

The NAND flash memory 100 reads data from the memory cell array 110 intothe sense amplifier 140. Then, for example, the sense amplifier 140exchanges bits among the latch circuits ADL, BDL, CDL, DDL, and EDL,thereby decoding the read scrambled data of, for example, 5 pages (stepS131). One example of this method involves reversing the operations ofthose shown in FIG. 53A, FIG. 53B, and FIG. 53C. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 53C, it is assumed that, of the scrambled data readfrom the memory cell array 110, the bottom page is held by the latchcircuit ADL, the lower page is held by the latch circuit BDL, the middlepage is held by the latch circuit CDL, the upper page is held by thelatch circuit DDL, and the top page is held by the latch circuit EDL.Also, it is assumed that the controller 200 requests top page data(decoded top page data). In this case, the sense amplifier 140 transfersthe bit T0 in the latch circuit EDL to the latch circuit XDL in thesense amplifier unit SAU corresponding to the bit line BL0, transfersthe bit T1 in the latch circuit ADL to the latch circuit XDL in thesense amplifier unit SAU corresponding to the bit line BL1, transfersthe bit T2 in the latch circuit BDL to the latch circuit XDL in thesense amplifier unit SAU corresponding to the bit line BL2, andtransfers the bit T3 in the latch circuit CDL to the latch circuit XDLin the sense amplifier unit SAU corresponding to the bit line BL3.Subsequently, similar operations are performed. As a result, the decodedtop page data (T0/T1/T2/T3/T4 . . . ) is held by the latch circuit XDL,as shown in FIG. 53C. The NAND flash memory 100 transmits the decodedpage data to the controller 200. Thereafter, the controller 200 performserror correction (step S27).

In FIG. 52 , the example in which the fifth embodiment of FIG. 20A isapplied; however, as shown in FIG. 20B, the controller 200 may issue aread command for each page. In this case, as described in connectionwith the fifth embodiment, the NAND flash memory 100 reads data from thememory cell array 110 to the sense amplifier 140 regarding the requestedpage, and the read bits are exchanged among the latch circuits asdescribed above, thereby decoding the scrambled data.

Furthermore, in the eleventh and twelfth embodiments described above,data is first scrambled among pages, and then scrambled among memorychips. In other words, data is scrambled doubly. However, data may notbe scrambled among pages. Specifically, for example, referring to FIG.43 , the data units DU0 to DU15 and their parities may be transmitted tothe memory chips CP0 to CP3 as data PG0 to PG15 without scrambling amongpages. This also applies to the case of FIG. 47 .

Furthermore, in the fifth to twelfth embodiments described above, thememory cell transistors hold 4-bit or 5-bit data; however, the memorycell transistors may hold, for example, 3-bit data. In this case, thefull page scramble method or (1+2) scrambling is applicable. The (1+2)scrambling is a method of randomizing data of three pages assigned toone word line WL by exchanging bits between two pages of the threepages, and not exchanging bits relating the remaining page. Furthermore,6 or more-bit data may be held. In the embodiments described above,two-dimensional or three-dimensional NAND flash memories are describedas semiconductor memory devices; however, the embodiments may be widelyapplied to any memory device including a memory cell that can hold aplurality of bits.

Note that in each embodiment concerning the present invention,

(1) When the memory cell holds 2-bit data (“Er”, “A”, “B”, and “C”), thevoltage applied to the selected word line in the reading operation of Alevel may range from, for example, 0 V to 0.55 V. However, the presentembodiments are not limited to this, and the voltage may be set withinany one of the ranges of 0.1 V to 0.24 V, 0.21 V to 0.31 V, 0.31 V to0.4 V, 0.4 V to 0.5 V, and 0.5 V to 0.55 V.

The voltage applied to the selected word line in the reading operationof B level may range from, for example, 1.5 V to 2.3 V. However, thevoltage is not limited to this and may be set within any one of theranges of 1.65 V to 1.8 V, 1.8 V to 1.95 V, 1.95 V to 2.1 V, and 2.1 Vto 2.3 V.

The voltage applied to the selected word line in the reading operationof C level may range from, for example, 3.0 V to 4.0 V. However, thevoltage is not limited to this and may be set within any one of theranges of 3.0 V to 3.2 V, 3.2 V to 3.4 V, 3.4 V to 3.5 V, 3.5 V to 3.6V, and 3.6 V to 4.0 V.

A time (tR) of the reading operation may be set within the range of, forexample, 25 μs to 38 μs, 38 μs to 70 μs, or 70 μs to 80 μs.

(2) A writing operation may include a program operation and a verifyoperation. In the writing operation, the voltage first applied to theselected word line in the program operation may range from, for example,13.7 V to 14.3 V. The voltage is not limited to this and may be setwithin any one of the ranges of, for example, 13.7 V to 14.0 V and 14.0V to 14.6 V.

The voltage first applied to the selected word line when write-accessingan odd-numbered word line and the voltage first applied to the selectedword line when write-accessing an even-numbered word line may bedifferent.

If the program operation may be ISPP (Incremental Step Pulse Program),the voltage of step-up may be, for example, 0.5 V.

The voltage applied to an unselected word line may be set within therange of, for example, 6.0 V to 7.3 V. However, the voltage is notlimited to this and may be set within the range of, for example, 7.3 Vto 8.4 or set to 6.0 V or less.

The pass voltage to be applied may be changed depending on whether theunselected word line is an odd-numbered word line or an even-numberedword line.

A time (tProg) of the writing operation may be set within the range of,for example, 1,700 μs to 1,800 μs, 1,800 μs to 1,900 μs, or 1,900 μs to2000 μs.

(3) In erasing operation,

The voltage first applied to the well which may be formed in the upperportion of the semiconductor substrate and above which the memory cellmay be arranged may be set within the range of, for example, 12 V to13.6 V. However, the voltage is not limited to this and may be setwithin the range of, for example, 13.6 V to 14.8 V, 14.8 V to 19.0 V,19.0 V to 19.8 V, or 19.8 V to 21 V.

A time (tErase) of the erasing operation may be set within the range of,for example, 3,000 μs to 4,000 μs, 4,000 μs to 5,000 μs, or 4,000 μs to9,000 μs.

(4) The structure of the memory cell

A charge accumulation layer may be arranged on a 4 to nm thick tunnelinsulating film. The charge accumulation layer may have a stackedstructure of a 2 to 3 nm thick insulating film of SiN or SiON and 3 to 8nm thick polysilicon. A metal such as Ru may be added to thepolysilicon. An insulating film is provided on the charge accumulationlayer. The insulating film may include a 4 to nm thick silicon oxidefilm sandwiched between a 3 to 10 nm thick lower High-k film and a 3 to10 nm thick upper High-k film. As the High-k film, HfO or the like maybe usable. The silicon oxide film may be thicker than the High-k film. A30 to 70 nm thick control electrode may be formed on a 3 to 10 nm thickwork function adjusting material on the insulating film. Here, the workfunction adjusting material may be a metal oxide film such as TaO or ametal nitride film such as TaN. As the control electrode, W or the likeis usable.

An air gap may be formed between the memory cells.

In the above embodiments, a NAND flash memory has been exemplified asthe semiconductor storage device. However, the embodiments may beapplicable not only to the NAND flash memory but also to other generalsemiconductor memories, and also applicable to various kinds of storagedevices other than the semiconductor memories. In the flowchartsdescribed in the above embodiments, the order of processes may bechanged as long as it is possible.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor memory device comprising: aplurality of memory cells each configured to hold 5-bit data accordingto a threshold; a word line electrically connected to the plurality ofmemory cells; and a row decoder configured to apply first to 31stvoltages to the word line, wherein first bit data of the 5-bit data isdetermined by reading operations using first to ath voltages, second bitdata different from the first bit data of the 5-bit data is determinedby reading operations using (a+1)th to (a+b)th voltages, third bit datadifferent from the first and second bit data of the 5-bit data isdetermined by reading operations using (a+b+1)th to (a+b+c)th voltages,fourth bit data different from the first to third bit data of the 5-bitdata is determined by reading operations using (a+b+c+1)th to(a+b+c+d)th voltages, fifth bit data different from the first to fourthbit data of the 5-bit data is determined by reading operations using(a+b+c+d+1)th to 31st voltages, the first to 31st voltages arerespectively different voltages, each of a, b, c and d is an integerlarger than or equal to 2, a sum of a, b, c and d is smaller than 30,the row decoder applies the first to 31st voltages to the word line inascending order of a voltage value, (i+1)th voltage is higher than ithvoltage, i being an integer larger than or equal to 1 and smaller thana, (j+1)th voltage is higher than jth voltage, j being an integer largerthan or equal to (a+1) and smaller than (a+b), (k+1)th voltage is higherthan kth voltage, k being an integer larger than or equal to (a+b+1) andsmaller than (a+b+c), (m+1)th voltage is higher than mth voltage, mbeing an integer larger than or equal to (a+b+c+1) and smaller than(a+b+c+d), (n+1)th voltage is higher than nth voltage, n being aninteger larger than or equal to (a+b+c+d+1) and smaller than 31, and thesemiconductor memory device is configured to send the first bit data ofdata read from the plurality of memory cells to a controller after acompletion of a reading operation using a lowest voltage of the athvoltage, the (a+b)th voltage, the (a+b+c)th voltage, the (a+b+c+d)thvoltage, and the 31st voltage.
 2. The semiconductor memory deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein sending of the first bit data to thecontroller is started before an application of a highest voltage of thefirst to 31st voltages.
 3. The semiconductor memory device according toclaim 1, further comprising: a plurality of circuits configured to holdthe data read from the plurality of memory cells, wherein the first bitdata is held in one circuit of the plurality of circuits, and the firstbit data held in the one circuit is sent to the controller.
 4. Thesemiconductor memory device according to claim 1, wherein the athvoltage is the lowest voltage of the ath voltage, the (a+b)th voltage,the (a+b+c)th voltage, the (a+b+c+d)th voltage, and the 31st voltage. 5.The semiconductor memory device according to claim 4, wherein the(a+b)th voltage is a lowest voltage of the (a+b)th voltage, the(a+b+c)th voltage, the (a+b+c+d)th voltage, and the 31st voltage.
 6. Thesemiconductor memory device according to claim 5, wherein the (a+b+c)thvoltage is a lowest voltage of the (a+b+c)th voltage, the (a+b+c+d)thvoltage, and the 31st voltage.
 7. The semiconductor memory deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein the 31st voltage is a voltage higher thanthe (a+b+c+d)th voltage.
 8. The semiconductor memory device according toclaim 7, wherein of the first to 31st voltages, the first voltage is alowest voltage and the 31st voltage is a highest voltage.
 9. Thesemiconductor memory device according to claim 8, wherein of the firstto 31st voltages, the (a+b)th voltage is a second lowest voltage and the(a+b+c+d)th voltage is a second highest voltage.
 10. The semiconductormemory device according to claim 9, wherein a is 6, b is 6, c is 6, andd is
 7. 11. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 10,wherein the ath voltage is a 21st-applied voltage of the first to 31stvoltages.
 12. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 11,wherein the (a+b)th voltage is a 27th-applied voltage of the first to31st voltages.
 13. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 9,wherein a is 4, b is 7, c is 7, and d is
 7. 14. The semiconductor memorydevice according to claim 13, wherein the ath voltage is a 19th-appliedvoltage of the first to 31st voltages.
 15. The semiconductor memorydevice according to claim 8, wherein a is 5, b is 7, c is 7, and d is 7.16. The semiconductor memory device according to claim 15, wherein theath voltage is a 20th-applied voltage of the first to 31st voltages. 17.The semiconductor memory device according to claim 7, wherein of thefirst to 31st voltages, the (a+b+c+d+1)th voltage is a lowest voltageand the 31st voltage is a highest voltage.
 18. The semiconductor memorydevice according to claim 17, wherein of the first to 31st voltages, thefirst voltage is a second lowest voltage and the (a+b+c+d)th voltage isa second highest voltage.
 19. The semiconductor memory device accordingto claim 18, wherein a is 6, b is 7, c is 7, and d is
 7. 20. Thesemiconductor memory device according to claim 19, wherein the athvoltage is a 22nd-applied voltage of the first to 31st voltages.